LACONIA - Susanne E. Irwin came into this world on March 28, 1929 and departed July 5, 2017.
Born to Mary Josephine (Forster) Eakin and Fred Cooper Eakin in Gary, Indiana, she spent her early childhood in Indiana and Kankakee (outside Chicago) Illinois. Her family moved in the 1930's to Jungle Trail, Orchid Island, Florida, where they worked the family's citrus grove. Her grandfather on her mother's side, Frank Forster, a US naturalized citizen from Germany, obtained the acreage for the groves in 1889 under the Homestead Act and, though, he was known as Captain Forster, he was, in truth, a stevedore (dock worker) with a lot of moxie who later became a farmer. Nonetheless, the property was both the family business and home for parts of several decades. Susanne was educated in nearby Vero Beach. Her family, by this time, had also begun spending time at a summer home on Lake Winnipesaukee. Eventually her father, Fred, took a position with Scott and Williams in Laconia and, then, her life's pace quickened as she moved to Boston for college in 1946, married Robert H. Irwin in 1950 at age twenty-one, helped start a family automobile dealership in 1951 at age twenty-two and gave birth to her son in 1953 at twenty-three. Susanne and Robert continued to be active in their Laconia and Florida communities serving on numerous boards, donating to charities and causes with a particular concern for Laconia's school system. They were involved, yet always anchored by a balance of temperament and realism. This balance was born out of respect, love, and, quite frankly, Sue's 'Yin' to Bob's 'Yang'. She was "cull the excess" succinct with dry wit; he was a confluence of facts, figures and storytelling and, they put together sixty-four years of marriage. Apparently it worked.
Susanne is survived by her son Peter Irwin, daughter-in-law Sarah, grandchild Christopher and his wife Rose, grandchild Kara and her husband Daniel Hopkins, two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Touart and Elaine Irwin, a brother-in-law, John "Jack" Irwin and many in-laws, nieces and nephews. Susanne was predeceased by her husband, Robert H. Irwin in 2014.
A Graveside service will be held at 10AM on Saturday, July 15, 2017 at the family lot, Bayside Cemetery in Laconia, followed immediately by a gathering for all family, friends and neighbors to be announced at the service.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the New Hampshire Humane Society, PO BOX 572, Laconia, NH 03247, to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8517 or to Central NH VNA & Hospice, 780 North Main St., Laconia, NH 03246
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements.