Suzanne "Sue" Bennett Nelson

Suzanne "Sue" Bennett Nelson, 90 years, of Burr Ridge, IL, formerly of DeKalb, IL, passed away on June 14, 2025 surrounded by her devoted family and friends. 

Sue was born July 27, 1934, in Madison, WI. to Montfort and Henrietta Bennett. She was later joined by a sister, Lynne. She had a joyful childhood growing up in Sycamore, IL, with bicycle rides, picnics in the woods, piano & dance lessons, and summers on Lake Delavan. 

She graduated from Sycamore High School in 1952 and the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1956, where she was president of Chi Omega sorority. After college, she taught kindergarten in Fort Atkinson, WI. 

In 1959, she married Charles Ralph Nelson, and they spent 42 loving years together. They built a life filled with family, friends, fishing, food, travel, and service to others. Their greatest joys were their two children, David (Louise) Nelson and Julia Nelson Chenelle; grandsons Anders (Carrie) Nelson, Devon Chenelle (fiancée Sarah Barcomb), and Hauk Nelson (fiancée Kate Roca); and cherished great-grandson Ezra Luke Nelson. 

Sue fully embraced her role as a homemaker and a member of the DeKalb community for forty years. She founded parent education classes for the AAUW, was president of the local Panhellenic chapter and the PTA, belonged to the P.E.O. Sisterhood, taught classes for 4-H groups, and served on various committees at the First United Methodist Church. Her passion for cooking led her to travel across the country to cooking schools and start a local gourmet dining group. When her children grew older, she worked for several years in marketing for the DeKalb Bank.

 After her dear husband's passing in 2001, Sue moved to Burr Ridge to be closer to her children and grandchildren. She loved attending their lacrosse and football games, concerts, theatre performances, and birthday celebrations. One of her greatest joys was taking her grandsons to the Northwoods of Wisconsin, a place of special memories with her husband. 

In later years, Sue became an active member of the King Bruwaert retirement community, joining the Book Club, Bible Study, and Current Events Group. She was also a member of the Community Presbyterian Church of Clarendon Hills, IL. Weekend afternoons, Sue could be found watching college football and reading the Sunday New York Times.

A celebration of life to be held at a later date.

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