Erlinda Vivar-Susaya

Erlinda Vivar-Susaya, 86, of Windsor, passed away peacefully on October 28, 2025.
Erlinda was born and spent her early years in a small town nestled in the majestic Andes Mountains of Peru. The eldest of a large group of siblings, she overcame significant challenges at a young age, including an extended illness that confined her to a hospital for a year and required her to move to the capital city of Lima to receive treatment. Erlinda was born tenacious, and she persevered through this ordeal, developing the resiliency that lasted her a lifetime. She completed night school courses while working as a seamstress during the day. Her appetite for learning was immense, and she quickly mastered English skills that opened doors for her to work at the Lima-based offices of Kodak, where she corresponded with her counterparts in the Rochester, NY, headquarters. During this period, she married and gave birth to her only child, Amy. Erlinda, was actively involved in her daughter's life and passed on to her a love for cats, dancing, and museums. More importantly, she guided her with a gentle touch and communicated trust in her ability to make the right decisions.
Erlinda's life took a defining turn in the early 1980's when she moved to the U.S. to join her husband's brothers and sisters and start anew in the Hartford, CT, area. Her vision was to eventually bring her mother, siblings and many nieces and nephews to the U.S., a dream she accomplished in the early 1990's. After her mother's passing, she became the matriarch of a tight-knit extended family, always ready to share wisdom, encouragement, thoughtful gifts, and the delicious Peruvian dishes she cooked. During her 22-year career at The Hartford, she consistently received accolades for her unimpeachable work ethic and skill at managing complex accounts. She remarried and began a 30-year partnership with her loving husband, Rogelio, whom she admired deeply and described as a "man of integrity." She also had the joy of welcoming twin grandchildren during this period and was very active in their upbringing, enjoying the gift of living a short walk from their house. She could be found at every one of their soccer games and band concerts, and she loved to spend the day with them at the Connecticut Science Center.
In her retirement, Erlinda found a passion for volunteering, serving for 16 years as a case worker at a crisis pregnancy agency where she worked with Spanish-speaking clients. She also became a dedicated gardener, taking special pride in the variety of roses she grew in her front and back yards. These were also the years when she began cultivating her Christian faith with the same care she summoned for her garden. In 2019, she and Rogelio were baptized at the Galilee baptismal site on the Jordan River, a memory she cherished dearly. Last May, she exulted in watching both of her grandchildren graduate college, seeing that as a culmination of her dream for all her loved ones to have access to the best educational opportunities. As she grew older and encountered more health challenges, she drew increasingly on her faith to give her peace about dying. Having had such a close encounter with death as a child, she didn't shy away from confronting her fear about dying in pain. A few months ago, as she spoke with her pastor about her certainty of dwelling forever with a loving God, she said, "This part of my journey is almost complete, and [thinking about] my final home is wonderful." Her last day on earth was pain-free, full of laughter and tender time with her loved ones. She lived an extraordinary life that will bless generations to come.
In addition to her husband and daughter, Erlinda is survived by a son-in-law, grandchildren, stepchildren, step grandchildren, brothers, sisters, and myriad nieces and nephews, all of whom will keep her memory alive and hold her close to their hearts.
Visitation with family members will take place on Friday, November 7, 10-11 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life, at 11 a.m., at Carmon Funeral Home, 807 Bloomfield Avenue, Windsor.
Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Windsor.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Compassion International at compassion.com, a charity that Erlinda supported for decades both financially and through faithful letter-writing to many Peruvian children who were lifted out of poverty.