Susan Chastain Grimm

1944 - 2018

Susan Grimm (nee Chastain), beloved wife of Terry, died on August 28, 2018, after a long illness unflinchingly borne, surrounded by family and friends. A resident of Chicago, Dune Acres, IN and Lake Wales, FL, Susan was valiant, brave and beautiful to the end. Known for being talented and smart with impeccable taste, Susan was always a good friend and charming companion. She was loved by many and her light and goodness in their lives will be deeply missed. Fortunately, the influence of Susan's thoughtfulness, guidance, good taste and sense of adventure will be remembered always by those who were blessed to know her. Susan was born on January 16, 1944, in Decatur, IL to Ruth and Homer Chastain. She was the youngest of their three girls. She was raised with a solid small town background of honesty, integrity and caring for others. She also had the opportunity to travel extensively with her parents, particularly in Europe. The experience of the trips, including one on the Orient Express, had a life-long influence on her excellent sense of style and design. Susan graduated from Indiana University, where she was active in Kappa Kappa Gamma, French Club and the Arts Club. She moved to Chicago where she then attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. Susan, a fashion model for a time, then turned her efforts to several design-related businesses. She formed a respected interior design firm, Susan Chastain and Associates, joined later by her good friend, Roe Faraone. Susan helped with planning the decor for Mayor Richard M. Daley's first office. Another well remembered project of her work was the Main Hangar Restaurant at the Decatur Airport. Susan's design skills made it one of the most popular destinations in town. In recent years, Susan applied her talents to her business of selling beautifully hand-painted glassware with her good friend, Dusty Stemer. Always an independent design professional, she was consistently designing fine jewelry, as she had since the 1960's. In the 1980's her creations were used internationally by Italian and Israeli jewelry companies. Susan frequently shared her artistic talents through the years by volunteering to help friends and charitable organizations, including many years serving on the Women's Board of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and the community of Dune Acres Civic Improvement Foundation, where she designed the town logo and generously oversaw the interior redesign of the Clubhouse. In 1976 she married Terry Grimm on an overseas vacation. They were so enthusiastic about their marriage that they had two ceremonies, a civil ceremony in Gibraltar and then an Episcopal ceremony in Tangier. The priest officiating disclosed some nervousness as theirs was the first wedding he had performed. "Only funerals before this" he lamented. Susan quipped we were happy to help break his record. Their years together were filled with love, family, friends and adventures, frequently entertaining guests and often traveling to exotic locations around the world. They were well-known as gracious and generous hosts at their beautiful homes. They were well-known as dedicated dachshund owners. Susan and Terry were also very lovingly involved with raising and inspiring their great-nephew and godson, Christian Hansen. Susan is survived by Terry, her dear niece, Karen Hansen, mother of Christian, two sisters, and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and great nieces and nephews. The family would also like to express special appreciation for the frequent care of Dr. Alexander Stemer and Dr. Audrey Tatar and the generous help of family friend BJ VanderLaan who organized Susan's team of caregivers including Yezenia Mondragon, Sharon Garber, Mindy Gall, Jamie Moore, Kimberly Killen, Jenna Costantino, Debbie Clarke, Alicia Slater, Andrea Neyland, and Niesha Myles, among others. A memorial gathering is being planned. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Susan's name to the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab would be appreciated.