Susan Ann Hamlin Bruggeman

1955 - 2025

Susan Ann Hamlin Bruggeman, 69, of Lake Worth Beach FL and formerly of Fort Wayne, IN, transitioned to Heaven on Tuesday April 15, 2025, in Palm Beach Co. Florida, the place she loved the most. Sue was born in Bury St Edmunds, West Suffolk, UK, on October 8, 1955, the daughter of Richard Edward Hamlin and Patricia (McGiff) Hamlin. Sue was raised in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, (regarded as the pottery capital of England), along with her younger sister Lynn, by their maternal aunt, Eileen McGiff Smith (lovingly known by Sue's children as Grandma Eileen) and her husband Eric Smith. Sue grew up with many aunts, uncles and cousins in England. At age 13, she journeyed to the United States to be with her birth mother, Patricia McGriff Hamlin. A few years later, she returned for her sister Lynn Hamlin Beers, and they bravely embarked on their American adventure together. Sue was an artist; she was always creating and designing. She loved decorating her homes and creating beautiful environments for her family. She loved cooking without recipes. She was a talented painter, and her family is particularly proud of her "Heart Series". Sue enjoyed fashion and hair; she attended Ravenscroft Beauty School. She loved ceramics and showed her children how to use a pottery wheel when they were toddlers. She was the founder and owner of The Pot Spot, located downtown, next to Riegel's Pipe & Tobacco. Susan met the love of her life, Patrick Bruggeman, at the Munchie Emporium (now Mad Anthony Brewing) and they were married on December 24, 1995. Susan loved life and had many friends; she was known for her beautiful singing voice, contagious laughter, and playful sense of humor.

Sue was preceded in death by Patrick Bruggeman, and by both sets of parents, Eileen McGiff Smith & Eric Smith, and birth parents, Patricia McGiff Hamlin & Richard Edward Hamlin. She is survived by her three children, Sarah Lynn Loshe, Bridget Louise Bruggeman, Anthony Eric Bruggeman, and two grandchildren whom she loved very much and always knew they would become amazing young men, Sean Loshe and Liam Loshe DeFancesco. Sue is also survived by her five younger siblings, Lynn R. Hamlin Beers, Steve Hamlin, Angela Hamlin Lake, Terry Hamlin and Greg Hamlin.

A Celebration of Sue's Life will be held on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave. Fort Wayne, Indiana. The family will receive friends from 11:00am – 1:00pm in the funeral home. To share a remembrance of Sue or to extend condolences to her family, please visit DivineMercyFuneralHome.com.