Rosa "Sunny" Ann Sundt-Busch

Sunny was born on July 25, 1927 to Rev. Edwin and Hazel (Gautreaux) Sundt in Willington, Connecticut. Early musical training began with piano lessons at age seven and continued through college. Her entire education and personal life goals were lovingly nurtured by a family friend, the late Rose O. Hall of Willington, for whom Rosa Ann was named. She was a graduate of the Northfield School for Girls ('46) in Massachusetts and attended Oberlin College in Ohio. For over 50 years, she served as a dedicated children's choir director at churches in Massachusetts, Ohio and Colorado. She sang in the Long Island Choral Society, the First Community Church Chancel Choir in Columbus, Ohio, Columbus Symphony Chorus and with many choirs in Colorado. She was an active member of the Choristers Guild and participated in many workshops and summer camps for children. Choral music, bell ringing, piano and musical theatre were a joyful thread throughout her life and a gift she shared with family and friends.

Sunnys' greatest joy was being with her large and extended family. Together with her late husband Robert Murtha, they raised four children: Trish Murtha (Brattleboro, VT), Paul Murtha (Cotacachi, Ecuador), Lyn (Brent) Danielson (Parker, CO) and Carol (Jim) McNulty (Greeley, CO). They spent many memorable times camping and skiing as a family. Sunny loved being outdoors and she shared her interest in birds and flowers with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed the water and took advantage of every opportunity she had to stick her toes in a creek, river, lake or ocean. Sunny and her late husband Bill Busch shared many camping adventures with their Summer Bummers Camping Club friends from Ft. Collins. Sunny also enjoyed reading, buying books for the family and loved reading aloud with the grandkids. Writing was also important to her and she would often keep a journal and send cards to the family with lengthy notes included. Throughout her long life, you would usually find Sunny with a dog by her side. She was 90 years old when she adopted Betsy Lou as a puppy - her last sweet little 4 legged friend.

Sunny is survived by her 4 children, 10 grandchildren - Brad Hardie, Scott Hardie, Anna Friedman, Angel Soles, Chris Classic, Sara Lavin, Luke Danielson, Heather Cure, Erin Timm, and Ryan McNulty, 19 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandson. She is also survived by Ann Murtha, Ann Sundt and Vivien Murtha along with many nieces and nephews coast to coast.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her step mother Hazel Sundt, her husbands Robert Murtha and William Busch, her sister Dinny Brownlee, brothers Valerie Sundt, and Edwin Sundt, as well as dear in-laws Charles and Helen Murtha, Helen and Al Morel, Rod and Monnie Murtha and Richard Murtha.

There's a wonderful reason why Rosa Ann was nicknamed "Sunny". She was a ray of sunshine to everyone who knew her. Her love of family, music and nature was evident throughout her entire life. She played the piano up until her final days, entertaining the staff and residents where she lived. She will be dearly missed by all.

The family would like to thank the staff at Good Samaritan Loveland Village and Pathways Hospice for the loving care they provided Sunny during the final years of her life.

A service of memory will be held on Sunday, September 10th at First United Methodist Church of Greeley, CO at 2:00 pm. Inurnment and a Celebration of Life will take place at a later date in Willington, Connecticut, her birthplace.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Rosa Ann Sundt-Busch to the NMH fund at Northfield Mount Hermon through their secure online server nmhschool.org/nmhfund or by phone at 866-NMH-GIVE (664-4483). 1 Lamplighter Way, Mount Hermon, MA 01354 or to First United Methodist Church of Greeley 917 10th Avenue Greeley, CO 80631