In Memory of
Susan Ann
Broadhurst Fonda
Broadhurst Fonda
1922 - 2018
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Obituary for Susan Ann Broadhurst Fonda
Sue and Douw Fonda were committed to each other in union of love on January 22, 1949 for nearly 50 years. Now, Sue Fonda has been reunited with her beloved husband, 21 years after his death. After 96 years here on this Earth, Sue can now also join many of her friends and family who have preceded her in death. Mary Broadhurst, Sue's sister-in-law, who was married to her brother Henry Broadhurst, is her only Colorado relative of her generation of Broadhursts still living. Sue is survived by three daughters, Tina, Cyndi, and Laurie and their families, with 6 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and one more baby on its way, who will all greatly miss their "Grammy". Sue was an angel in their midst, and her death leaves a huge void in all of their lives, but her loving memory remains in hearts forever.
Sue was the 3rd generation of the Broadhurst / Page family in Colorado. Her grandparents came to Colorado from Massachusetts in the early 1900's. They were influential in the early days of Colorado history. Warren Page, Sue's grandfather, opened 2 mines in the towns of Leadville and Breckenridge, and many of her childhood years were spent in the high Rockies of Colorado. She and her family lived in Denver, where her father had a large shoe store on 16th Ave and California St from 1923-1931. The family has left a deep footprint in the Colorado soil. Sue attended Graland School of Denver in her early school years, and eventually graduated from Kent Country Day School. Many of Sue's friends remained very close to her after she graduated from Kent. Of recent years, she was the only living member of her graduating class up until her death. After graduating from Kent, Sue went on to attend Mt. Holyoke College in Massachusetts for her first 2 years of college. Then, Sue spent her last 2 years at Mills College in Oakland Calif., graduating in 1944 with a degree in Elementary Education. Upon graduating, she went on to become a teacher at Kent School for several years.
Not long after marrying Douw on January 22, 1949, they moved to the country in Cherry Hills Village outside of Denver, to raise their 3 girls. "Family" was everything to Sue ! Her life revolved around them, and she devoted her whole self into her girls and Douw! They established a small farm and filled it with many horses, dogs, cats- animals large and small. One of Sue's greatest loves was gardening in her large vegetable and flower gardens, where she raised, picked and passionately canned her harvests. Another one of Sue's greatest passions were animals and nature. She loved all creatures and was a great sport in helping out with all the upkeep of the family horses. Douw and the girls were very entrenched in horses, so she became the faithful "stable manager" for all the Colorado horse shows, Pony Club rallies and mountain rides in Georgetown CO. Whatever was needed to support her family in their equestrian endeavors, Sue would help in whatever chores were needed to be accomplished to enrich her children's lives.
Nature was her second nature and she felt a kinship to the trees, flowers, streams, rocks, and anything that bloomed or spoke to her. This love for nature was infused into her three daughters, which has been passed down to grand and great-grand children, as well. In her later years as Sue took walks around her care center, in a Park, or in the mountains, Sue would pick up colorful leaves, interesting sticks, pine cones, pretty rocks, or anything that caught her eye, and stashed them in her walker basket, which often looked like a school biology project! She never took the small wonders of nature for granted, stopping to gaze at the clouds and their formations, or the moon-lit night sky, or the repeating ripples in the streams or ponds. Nature gave her a feeling of God's presence and richly filled her soul.
In keeping with her love for nature, was Sue's deep love and devotion to dogs. The family always had been blessed with dogs as pets- all shapes and sizes, mostly rescued from Denver Dumb Friends League. Sue had pictures and stories of her childhood dogs, which she spoke of often. There was always a dog in her midst. Her last dog, "Montana", was so devoted to her. They were inseparable! Sue rescued Montana from abuse, but in many ways he rescued her too from lonely days/nights. At the end of Montana's life, the vet said that when she came to put him down," This dog lived an extra two years longer than his kidneys could endure, just because of his deep love and devotion to Sue". All the many past dogs in Sue's life will most likely have greeted her with love, enthusiasm and wagging tails when she entered Heaven. That happy reunion would have been a sight to see!
Sue was an open-hearted woman who had a selfless love who never took anyone for granted. She shared herself and her precious things with family and those she loved, or those who touched her life. She also had a boundless curiosity of people and their lives, and a true fascination of what their interests and passions were. Sue often encouraged friends and acquaintances by saying to them, "write a book about what you are doing," because she was so fascinated with their lives, that she wanted them to share it with others. Sue was never the focus and was extremely humble. What excited her was other peoples' lives, and she truly lived her life on their coat tails. Towards the end of her life, every conversation started with her saying, " Tell me something exciting", as everyone's life had nuggets of joy and excitement in it to share with her. Joy was her trademark, and she wanted everyone to be happy.
Sue and Douw often welcomed into their family, friends of their daughters and teens who needed a loving home away from home. They would help teenagers down on their luck who needed a "lift", or to assist DU college students who needed a temporary place to live, or offer two Vietnamese refugee brothers who needed a job and new direction. Douw and Sue both opened their hearts and home to all who needed a loving hug and warm home. Sue's nickname by so many young people was, "Mommy Fonda", as she was a second mother to so many others.
Volunteering was also Sue's second job. Some of the worthy organizations of which she was involved were The Denver Children's Hospital, Girl Scouts, Pony Club, Georgetown Historical Society, St. John's Episcopal Church, Denver Debutante Committee, The Junior League, and many other organizations which helped the Denver Community. She felt that volunteering was her civic duty and her moral responsibility to give back to others, and she did it with boundless joy and a loving heart.
Douw's nickname for Sue was'' Lambie", which was so fitting as Sue held a little stuffed lamb close to her heart when she took her last breath. Her quiet nature as an observer, and subtle ways were much like the little lamb- always the teacher of the art of subtlety, when others chose to assert or overwhelm, she would sit back and watch and wait, taking it all in stride. She led by example as strength through gentleness, courage through compassion, love through kindness and humility.
Sue's legacy of life will live on forever through the memories she imprinted on all who had the privilege and blessing of knowing her. She was a true angel among us, and all who were touched by her grace, will carry her in their hearts forever. Her imprint on the Earth has made it a better place for all of us. We celebrate a life well-lived and a life well-loved. Her Christian faith kept her strong and hopeful in life's celebrations and adversity, and full of grace up to the end of her days. Her life ended with a comma, not a period, as she now has a new address in Heaven in God's kingdom!
"There are some who bring a light to the world that is so great, that even after they have gone, the light remains." So it was with Sue Fonda.
In lieu of flowers, in Sue’s remembrance, donations may be given to:
The Denver Dumb Friends League
2080 S. Quebec St. Denver, CO 80231
https://secure2.convio.net/ddfl/site/
(tribute gift)
Historic Georgetown
P.O. Box 667, Georgetown, Colorado 80444 www. historicgeorgetown.org
(970) 531-2268 (Nancy Hale)
nsh@historicgeorgetown.org
Suncrest Hospice
5700 S. Quebec St. Suite 310
Greenwood Village, CO, 80111
720-941-5580
www.suncrestcare.com
Sue was the 3rd generation of the Broadhurst / Page family in Colorado. Her grandparents came to Colorado from Massachusetts in the early 1900's. They were influential in the early days of Colorado history. Warren Page, Sue's grandfather, opened 2 mines in the towns of Leadville and Breckenridge, and many of her childhood years were spent in the high Rockies of Colorado. She and her family lived in Denver, where her father had a large shoe store on 16th Ave and California St from 1923-1931. The family has left a deep footprint in the Colorado soil. Sue attended Graland School of Denver in her early school years, and eventually graduated from Kent Country Day School. Many of Sue's friends remained very close to her after she graduated from Kent. Of recent years, she was the only living member of her graduating class up until her death. After graduating from Kent, Sue went on to attend Mt. Holyoke College in Massachusetts for her first 2 years of college. Then, Sue spent her last 2 years at Mills College in Oakland Calif., graduating in 1944 with a degree in Elementary Education. Upon graduating, she went on to become a teacher at Kent School for several years.
Not long after marrying Douw on January 22, 1949, they moved to the country in Cherry Hills Village outside of Denver, to raise their 3 girls. "Family" was everything to Sue ! Her life revolved around them, and she devoted her whole self into her girls and Douw! They established a small farm and filled it with many horses, dogs, cats- animals large and small. One of Sue's greatest loves was gardening in her large vegetable and flower gardens, where she raised, picked and passionately canned her harvests. Another one of Sue's greatest passions were animals and nature. She loved all creatures and was a great sport in helping out with all the upkeep of the family horses. Douw and the girls were very entrenched in horses, so she became the faithful "stable manager" for all the Colorado horse shows, Pony Club rallies and mountain rides in Georgetown CO. Whatever was needed to support her family in their equestrian endeavors, Sue would help in whatever chores were needed to be accomplished to enrich her children's lives.
Nature was her second nature and she felt a kinship to the trees, flowers, streams, rocks, and anything that bloomed or spoke to her. This love for nature was infused into her three daughters, which has been passed down to grand and great-grand children, as well. In her later years as Sue took walks around her care center, in a Park, or in the mountains, Sue would pick up colorful leaves, interesting sticks, pine cones, pretty rocks, or anything that caught her eye, and stashed them in her walker basket, which often looked like a school biology project! She never took the small wonders of nature for granted, stopping to gaze at the clouds and their formations, or the moon-lit night sky, or the repeating ripples in the streams or ponds. Nature gave her a feeling of God's presence and richly filled her soul.
In keeping with her love for nature, was Sue's deep love and devotion to dogs. The family always had been blessed with dogs as pets- all shapes and sizes, mostly rescued from Denver Dumb Friends League. Sue had pictures and stories of her childhood dogs, which she spoke of often. There was always a dog in her midst. Her last dog, "Montana", was so devoted to her. They were inseparable! Sue rescued Montana from abuse, but in many ways he rescued her too from lonely days/nights. At the end of Montana's life, the vet said that when she came to put him down," This dog lived an extra two years longer than his kidneys could endure, just because of his deep love and devotion to Sue". All the many past dogs in Sue's life will most likely have greeted her with love, enthusiasm and wagging tails when she entered Heaven. That happy reunion would have been a sight to see!
Sue was an open-hearted woman who had a selfless love who never took anyone for granted. She shared herself and her precious things with family and those she loved, or those who touched her life. She also had a boundless curiosity of people and their lives, and a true fascination of what their interests and passions were. Sue often encouraged friends and acquaintances by saying to them, "write a book about what you are doing," because she was so fascinated with their lives, that she wanted them to share it with others. Sue was never the focus and was extremely humble. What excited her was other peoples' lives, and she truly lived her life on their coat tails. Towards the end of her life, every conversation started with her saying, " Tell me something exciting", as everyone's life had nuggets of joy and excitement in it to share with her. Joy was her trademark, and she wanted everyone to be happy.
Sue and Douw often welcomed into their family, friends of their daughters and teens who needed a loving home away from home. They would help teenagers down on their luck who needed a "lift", or to assist DU college students who needed a temporary place to live, or offer two Vietnamese refugee brothers who needed a job and new direction. Douw and Sue both opened their hearts and home to all who needed a loving hug and warm home. Sue's nickname by so many young people was, "Mommy Fonda", as she was a second mother to so many others.
Volunteering was also Sue's second job. Some of the worthy organizations of which she was involved were The Denver Children's Hospital, Girl Scouts, Pony Club, Georgetown Historical Society, St. John's Episcopal Church, Denver Debutante Committee, The Junior League, and many other organizations which helped the Denver Community. She felt that volunteering was her civic duty and her moral responsibility to give back to others, and she did it with boundless joy and a loving heart.
Douw's nickname for Sue was'' Lambie", which was so fitting as Sue held a little stuffed lamb close to her heart when she took her last breath. Her quiet nature as an observer, and subtle ways were much like the little lamb- always the teacher of the art of subtlety, when others chose to assert or overwhelm, she would sit back and watch and wait, taking it all in stride. She led by example as strength through gentleness, courage through compassion, love through kindness and humility.
Sue's legacy of life will live on forever through the memories she imprinted on all who had the privilege and blessing of knowing her. She was a true angel among us, and all who were touched by her grace, will carry her in their hearts forever. Her imprint on the Earth has made it a better place for all of us. We celebrate a life well-lived and a life well-loved. Her Christian faith kept her strong and hopeful in life's celebrations and adversity, and full of grace up to the end of her days. Her life ended with a comma, not a period, as she now has a new address in Heaven in God's kingdom!
"There are some who bring a light to the world that is so great, that even after they have gone, the light remains." So it was with Sue Fonda.
In lieu of flowers, in Sue’s remembrance, donations may be given to:
The Denver Dumb Friends League
2080 S. Quebec St. Denver, CO 80231
https://secure2.convio.net/ddfl/site/
(tribute gift)
Historic Georgetown
P.O. Box 667, Georgetown, Colorado 80444 www. historicgeorgetown.org
(970) 531-2268 (Nancy Hale)
nsh@historicgeorgetown.org
Suncrest Hospice
5700 S. Quebec St. Suite 310
Greenwood Village, CO, 80111
720-941-5580
www.suncrestcare.com
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