Susan Adelaide Henretta

Susan was born January 3, 1947, in Kane, Pennsylvania, to the late William Terence and Adelaide Smith Henretta. Susan moved to Statesville, N.C., in the late 1950s after her father’s family sold their educational wooden-toy business. She moved next to Greensboro where she graduated from Grimsley High School in 1964. She attended Salem College in Winston-Salem for two years, and then graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill Phi Beta Kappa in 1968. She earned a master’s degree in classical studies from the University of Missouri and completed 60 hours towards her doctorate also in classical studies there. Susan continued to be a lifelong student and enjoyed reading, especially mysteries and historical novels. Her fun-loving nature was apparent in her affection for board and word games. She was a member of the N.C. State University Club’s book group at her death.

Susan’s hobbies and loves included knitting, crocheting, and cross-stitching. She used these talents to make hundreds of blankets and hats for local hospital’s nurseries, including Rex Hospital where she volunteered for many years. She was an enthusiastic line- and square dancer and belonged to several local dancing clubs. Susan enjoyed listening to and making music, having played the recorder with friends and music groups throughout her life. Her love of travel took her to many new cities and countries, most extensively in Europe. Susan’s deep affection for cats was well-known to family and friends, and she generously gave of her time, home and love to abandoned cats. She belonged to the Red Hat Society and the Pennsylvania Club.

Susan retired from a successful, decades-long career with the U.S. Postal Service as a computer programmer, working initially in Washington, D.C., and later in Raleigh.

She was predeceased by her parents and eldest brother Smith. She is survived by five siblings: Peter of Englewood, Colo., Antoinette Conger (Ken) of Statesville, Sarah Weaver (Albert III) of Raleigh, Hank Henretta (Sandy) of Greensboro and Andre Henretta (Linda) of High Point. Nieces and nephews surviving her include Lars of Dallas, Texas, Hans and Sven Henretta of (Stockholm, Sweden), Scott Conger (Lisa) of Mooresville, Mark Conger (Susan) of Winston-Salem, Brad Conger (Cindy) of Bryn Mawr, Pa., Alexis Weaver of Cary, Alison Weaver (Adam Barlow) of Raleigh, Alandra Weaver of New York City, and Law Weaver (Ashley) of Raleigh. She is survived by several loving cousins and one aunt. Special friend Ken Birkett survives her as do her two cats, Tucker and Violet.

Funeral services will be held at Edenton Street United Methodist Church at noon on Saturday, January 22, 2011, with a visitation in Kerr Hall following the service. She will be interred at a subsequent service in Greensboro in a family plot alongside her parents and eldest brother.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the SPCA of Wake County, 200 Petfinder Lane, Raleigh, NC 27603 or to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Triangle/Eastern NC Chapter, 7721 Six Forks Road, No. 136, Raleigh, NC 27615.