Susan Ida Messner

Susan Ida Messner of Longwood, Florida passed away peacefully on Friday, March 8th, 2024, surrounded by her loving daughters Stephanie and Pamela. She was 86 years old and was predeceased in 2018 by her adoring husband of 60 years, Dr. Stephen D. Messner.

Born on May 27th, 1937, in Elkhart, Indiana to Guy Laird and Eva Pamila Bailey. She graduated from Elkhart High School and was looking forward to attending Indiana University when she met Stephen Messner. He had just returned from the Military and planned to attend IU. After a brief courtship in 1958, they married and set off to attend college together. Stephen proved to be an exceptional student with big aspirations, so after the first year, Susan put her academics on hold and took a job in administration to support him through his many years of academic honors and achievements. In 1963 they had their first daughter Stephanie Sue, and in 1964 their second daughter Pamela Ann.

Upon graduating, Stephen took a job at the University of Connecticut’s School of Business where he became the Head of Finance, Director of Real Estate and ultimately the Dean. Susan served as Steve’s administrative assistant, and right hand, managing the office for his consultancy and various other business ventures. She enjoyed traveling with him through the years to many different countries for business and for pleasure.

In their later years, they retired and moved to Florida, where they enjoyed spending more time with their children and grandchildren, traveling the globe, attending their favorite Shakespeare Theater, the Symphony, and Operas, as well as growing in their faith. Susan was a member for many years at Northland Church in Longwood, FL, as well as a participant in BSF, International. In her last few years, she attended services at the Longwood Episcopal Church and received in-home visits by their loving clergy.

Referred to as an angel by many, Susan was best known for her humble, kind, loving, compassionate and generous nature as well as her elegance and grace. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family, and making sure every family gathering was filled with joy and enjoyed by all. Her nurturing disposition was evident in the way she doted on her family members and guests, but also in her love of babies, children, plants, flowers, and the many dogs she had through the years. It is no surprise that the name SUSAN has deep spiritual meaning and is associated with the Lily flower often found on Easter which symbolizes love, innocence, purity, fertility, and re-birth.

Susan is predeceased by her husband Stephen Messner and her sister Barbara Greg (Ray), and survived by her sisters Mary Hurtle, Jerrie Damm and Sally Cocanower (Jerry), her two children, Stephanie Brown and Pamela Payne (Simeon), her four adoring grandchildren, Shane (Brittany) Brown, Kathryn Payne, Lauren Brown, Tyler Payne and two adorable great grandchildren Murphy and Norah Brown.

A memorial service will be held in Susan’s honor on April 13th, 2024, at 10:30am at The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, 251 E Lake Brantley Dr, Longwood FL 32779 . A reception will be held on site for all, followed by a gravesite ceremony in Winter Park for family.

If you cannot attend and would like access to the live service, or a copy of the service please contact Pamela at 203-912-5047.