Susan Elizabeth Richardson, age 81 years, passed away on March 10, 2020, after a long illness.  She was born April 25, 1938, in Orange, NJ, to Richard and Dorothy (nee Austin) Hippe. Susan was one of seven siblings. Her beloved grandparents, Otto and Marie (nee Hartwig) Hippe, raised Susan and her sister Carol at their home in the Bronx, after the early death of their mother.  Despite difficult circumstances, all the siblings remained close and often worked together in the family bakery, in Newark, NJ. 

A graduate of Evander Childs High School in the Bronx, Susan also attended the Fashion Institute of Technology. While employed at Blue Cross Blue Shield in 1958, she met the love of her life, Kenneth Richardson, at the wedding of a good friend.  After marrying, Susan and Ken made their home in Denville, NJ, and became parents to two daughters, Tracy and Randi.  

Susan was a homemaker, a Girl Scout leader, and later became a co-manager at Rite Aid.  After the death of her beloved husband in 1990, Susan moved to Hunterdon County, NJ to be near her children and grandchildren.  When advancing age made mobility difficult, she moved to an assisted living home in Hillsborough, NJ, and was often visited by family.  

Susan had many stellar talents which she explored and strengthened throughout her life.  As a gifted and inventive artist, Susan often created her own (and better) versions of items she saw in stores.  Nothing was too big a task- clothing, upholstery, curtains, linens, paintings, home decor, murals, Halloween costumes, furniture, stenciling, mosaics, and more were created by her talented hands. She would often express her love with homemade gifts to family and friends.  In later years, she became an award-winning watercolor artist, and was a proud member of the Hunterdon County Watercolor Society. 

A passionate and life-long reader, she enjoyed books on many subjects, especially mysteries.  She designed and created beautiful gardens which displayed both her green thumb and architectural eye.  She appreciated all manner of creatures, and took a special delight in birds.  Her homes were filled with thriving houseplants, and she would take you to task if she visited yours and the plants were neglected!

Susan was proud of her German heritage and upbringing, and her masterful storytelling would often be the focus of family gatherings.  She enjoyed music (despite being told by a grade-school teacher that she had a ‘listening’ voice) and was very proud of the musical talents of her four grandchildren.  

A collector of ideas, Susan kept volumes of notebooks with sketches, plans, musings, poems and quotes. She was always ahead of her time and her family noticed that her unique ideas often were seen later in trendy magazines.  Susan had a talent for crosswords, and was a devotee of English TV programs.  Frank, witty, and compassionate, she loved all of her family unconditionally, and her passing leaves a void which will be difficult to fill.  

In addition to her husband, parents and grandparents, Susan was preceded in death by all of her siblings: Richard, Dorothy, Barbara, Helen, Carol, and Thomas.

Surviving are her two daughters and sons-in-law, Tracy and Bill Cordasco and Randi and Eric Scher; her grandchildren, Kenneth and Katherine Cordasco and Mason and Graham Scher; her lifelong best friend, Lizzie Lebold; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family, all of whom were special to her.  

Susan will lie in repose on Saturday, March 14, 2020 from 11:00 a.m.to 1:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ 08822. Mourners are asked to refrain from hugging, kissing and shaking hands during the ceremonies. Instead, a simple smile and nod of expressed sympathy will be all that is needed. Your cooperation and understanding is greatly appreciated.

A life celebration service officiated by Rev. Seth Fisher will begin at 1:00 p.m. following the visitation and to which all are welcome.

Please visit Susan’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a memorial candle, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

Memorial contributions in Susan’s honor may be made to the National Audubon Society, 225 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”