Suzanne “Suzi” Person, beloved wife of the late William Person and daughter of Thomas and Mary Welch, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2026 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was the heart of a sprawling family, known for her fierce love, boundless energy, and unwavering devotion to those she held close.
Suzanne grew up in Springfield, Pennsylvania, one of seven children in a family rooted in hard work, laughter, and togetherness. From a young age, she was both creative and driven, an avid swimmer who taught herself how to sew and dreamed of a career in the fashion industry. She fulfilled that dream early on, working as a buyer and model at Strawbridge & Clothier, a role she spoke of often with pride.
Suzanne married the love of her life, William “Billy” Person and together they built a life grounded not in material abundance, but in love, trust, and the belief that together they “had everything.” That belief carried them into the joyful chaos of raising seven children, six sons and one daughter, in a home filled with warmth, encouragement, and constant activity. Fun was always central to Suzanne’s way of life, and she showed her love through action. She sewed costumes, repaired uniforms, and made countless dresses, often saying she “stitched love and prayers into every stitch.” A legendary cook with an effortless ability to feed fifty people, she made meals feel abundant and gatherings feel joyful from family dinners to tailgates for Navy, Penn, and South Carolina Football, and later American University Lacrosse. Quietly, she instilled confidence by making homes feel warm and lives feel supported.
She brought that same generosity to her wider community, running the funnel cake stand at the St. Denis Fair for many years, coaching swimming at Karakung, operating an in-home nursery, and later working in student accounts at Eastern University.
Perhaps the role she cherished most was becoming “Nana” to her 26 grandchildren. This chapter of her life was rich with games, cards, trips to the Poconos, and the everyday moments that quietly became lifelong memories. Nana was always a call away ready with guidance on cooking, life, or whatever challenge was at hand offering wisdom and encouragement that was both steady and sincere.
In one of the most defining acts of her son Andy’s life, after tragedy struck through cancer and the loss of his wife, Dottie, Suzanne stepped forward with quiet strength to help raise his five young children. Through her steady presence, warmth, and unwavering love, she brought comfort, stability, and joy to their daily lives. What she gave during those years went far beyond help. She offered nurturing, guidance, and a sense of home, becoming not only their grandmother, but a second mother in every way that mattered. During this time, she also opened and ran a parish thrift store at St. Philip and St. James, often bringing her grandchildren alongside her to learn the value of service and, conveniently, to run the register.
In her later years, Suzanne built a close-knit community of friends at Lake Naomi. No matter where she lived, she had a gift for creating spaces filled with warmth, joy, and belonging. A lifelong learner, she also taught herself how to garden, drawing on the wisdom passed down from her mother and tending everything she loved with patience and care.
Suzanne believed deeply that inheritance is not what we leave behind, but what we leave within others. She lived without regret, giving fully of herself each day and trusting that love, positivity, and faith could shape a better world. The love and strength she poured into her children and grandchildren will reverberate for generations. She remains our foundation of love, and we carry her with us always.
Survived by:
Suzanne was the loving mother of Andrew (the late Dottie) Person, Christopher (Dee) Person, Brian (Melissa) Person, Daniel (Joanne) Person, Francis (Krystal) Person, Joseph (Liz) Person, and Anne Marie (Michael) Muldoon.
She was the cherished Nana of Elise, Caroline, Andrew, Mary Kate, Jack, Jason, Brooke, Morgan, Lilly, Henry, Charlotte, Michael, Billie, Julius, Naomi, Miles, Isabella, Zoe, Finnegan, Katherine, Grace, and Maura Person, and Joseph, Madeline, and Maya Muldoon.
Suzanne was also the sister of the late Mary Lou, and of Thomas and Jim Welch, Terri O’Donnell, Dorothy Maguire, and Patricia Bitzberger.
