Susan Elizabeth Garfield-Wright

1953 - 2014

Susan Elizabeth Garfield-Wright (née Wright) died peacefully on December 21, 2014 at the age of 61. Her last month was spent in Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst, Massachusetts, following a recurrence of breast cancer.
Susan was born in Concord, MA on September 4, 1953 to Stanley and Dorothy Wright, and grew up on Great Brook Farm in Carlisle, MA. She graduated from Concord-Carlisle High School in 1967 and attended Hiram College in Akron, OH and later on, Clark University in Worcester, MA. She met Michael Garfield in Boston, and before long, they were married in Sutton, NH, on August 17, 1980. Eager to begin their life together, Susan and Michael happily moved to Franklin County. They shared the ideals of creating a family and home built on faith in hard work and perseverance.
Always carrying a strong sense of place, and a keen knowledge of and appreciation for the life around her, Susan was committed to improving the lives of those in her community. It was also an important belief of Susan's that people pursue their educational and vocational ambitions pragmatically. She demonstrated this daily by making and crossing off her own to-do lists, a legacy which will live on.
Over the years she held many roles at All Souls Church as a worship leader, board member, committee member, administrative assistant, Sunday school teacher, and Religious Education Coordinator. She was an integral part of the success of the family business, Chunks of Energy. She was a member of the Shelburne Falls Area Women's Club and Buckland Public Library committee. Further, Susan was a gifted teacher. Teaching was in her blood - she started out working with her mother at the Country Day School and later on was a director at Valley Play School and the Greenfield Child Care Center. Susan enthusiastically home schooled her own children in their earlier grade levels and was also a dedicated Girl Scout Troop Leader for many years.
Most recently, she taught the art and technique of quilting (amongst other artistic formats) at Notions to Quilt in Shelburne. Susan strived to inspire those she taught to discover and pursue their own artistic vision, while at the same time she was evolving a unique style of her own. She was proud and dedicated member of the Mohawk Trail Quilters Guild. She was an accomplished artist who was recognized for her beautiful design sensibility and creative eye. Susan's love for the Pantone color wheel shall live on along with the countless works of textile art and quilts she created. Lastly, she was a season ticket holder and fan of the Umass Women's Basketball team for over 20 years and experienced great joy in a visit from their head coach during her stay at the Fisher Home.
Her deep love for the world lives on in her family, friends, and community. Susan is survived by her mother, Dorothy Wright, 98, of Greenfield, MA; husband of 35 years, Michael Garfield-Wright of Buckland, MA; daughters- Hanna (Taso) Apostolidis of Rydal, PA, Leah Garfield-Wright of Montreal, QC, and Sylvia Garfield-Wright of Boston, MA; her sister, Nancy Conklin of Holderness, NH; grandchildren, Georgios, Eleni & Alexandros Apostolidis all of Rydal, PA. Susan also leaves behind her beloved sisters-in-law, Rona Garfield, and Eileen (née Garfield) Agnes and husband Peter and her nephew - Tom Conklin and nieces - Amy (David) Waters, Becky (Scott) Purdy, Jami (Chris) Vetter and Lindsay (John) Tiberi and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews. She is preceded in death by her father, Stanley Dana Wright, and sister, Judith Lee Wright.
This Saturday, December 27th, at 2 pm, a service honoring Susan will be at the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in Greenfield. The Rev. Georganne Green will officiate and all are welcome to attend. A reception will follow at the family's home in Buckland.
The family would like to thank the staff and volunteers of Hospice of the Fisher Home for the exceptional care and compassion shown to her daughters, husband, and visitors. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hospice of Fisher Home at 1165 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, 01002, and/or Cancer Connection, 41 Locust St., Northampton, MA 01060.