Susan G. DeVan

On Thursday, November 28, 2024, Susan Gross DeVan, loving wife and mother of six children, passed away at age 81.
Susan was born on December 3, 1942, in Washington D.C. to Mary Christine LeCarpentier and Joseph Edward Gross.
Susan was a devout Catholic and attended Catholic schools from first grade through college. She graduated from Georgetown University in 1964 with a BS degree from the School of Foreign Service. She was well educated in Catholic theology.
After graduation, she served in the intelligence community for several years where she met her future husband, Richard James DeVan. They were married on September 2, 1967, and settled in Fairfax, VA to raise a family of six children.
She was a longtime member of the Daughters of St. Francis de Sales and worked with the National Coalition for the Homeless, in Fairfax County. She enjoyed fencing foil and competing in veterans' tournaments.
After living in Fairfax for over thirty years, Susan and Richard retired to the mountains of West Virginia to enjoy the quiet life. There, Susan pursued her passion for painting, producing art which was accepted in many galleries across the country. She was also an avid writer and wrote a column for The Hampshire Review newspaper and published a book, "The Granny Chronicles."
Susan is survived by her husband of over 57 years, Richard James DeVan; children, Ethel M DeVan, Amy C DeVan, William A DeVan, Christine T Puttock, Susan D Smith, and Michael JP DeVan; sons-in-law, Steven M Puttock and Michael F Smith; daughter-in-law, Ruth O DeVan; and grandchildren, Charlotte Puttock, Molly DeVan, Bryan DeVan, Sarah Puttock, and Megan Puttock.
A funeral mass will take place at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Tuesday, December 10, at 11:00 AM in Annandale, VA. Immediately following the mass, Susan will be laid to rest at Fairfax Memorial Park in Fairfax, VA. The family will have a celebration of her life after the holidays.