Suzanne Madeleine Doucette Plante

Born in Lewiston, Maine, on October 28, 1941, Suzanne grew up as one of five siblings in a lively, French-speaking household. That early French influence stayed with her throughout her life, showing up with some stylistic pronunciations, phrases and occasional colorful language.

Suzanne’s fiery spirit first caught the eye of Billy Plante at a high school YMCA dance. The spark was instant. They married in 1960, and she quickly embraced motherhood. In her early twenties, she could often be found with her three young daughters in tow, all dressed in meticulously handmade, matching outfits.

In 1962, the family left Maine, beginning a journey that took them to Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, and eventually Colorado. In 1970, their family grew again with the arrival of a son. No matter where they landed, Suzanne made every house a home—with laughter, music, a parade of beloved pets, and a revolving door of friends.

A masterful seamstress, Suzanne spent many years altering bridal gowns and creating beautiful textiles. She was undaunted by a challenge—whether it was reupholstering furniture or managing full-scale home renovations, while Bill was away on business, so that he couldn’t say “no.” Later in life, she worked in the Colorado Springs school system, where she adored being around children, and eventually retired from Sunrise Medical in Longmont, CO.

As young parents, Suzanne and Bill were always up for anything with their adult kids—rollerblading, zip lining, attending rock concerts, even the occasional college party. Always at ease in social settings, Suzanne rarely passed up an invitation. She moved through life with purpose and speed—whether skiing in the Colorado mountains, browsing art shows, indulging in retail therapy, playing dominos, watercolor painting, or traveling the world. While cooking was not Suzanne’s favorite, she was excellent at making reservations. She and Bill were fixtures at local restaurants and embraced a weekly ritual of date nights to view the latest movies, often hosting Oscar Parties during awards season.

More than anything, Suzanne was happiest spending time with her four children and their spouses—Renée (Ken), Tracy (Mark), Lisa (Jeff), and Jason (Sophie)—as well as her ten grandchildren: Alex (Matt), Chloe, Conor (Cara), Patrick, Trevor, Elise (Kevin), John, Dean, Kayla, Aidan and former son-in-law, Jim. In recent years, she was blessed with the births of two great-grandchildren, Callum and Sabine. Suzanne is survived by a sister, Madeleine Ayvazian. She is preceded in death by her parents, Reginald and Evelyn Doucette; her sister, Jacqueline Shapiro; her brothers, Reginald and Andy Doucette; and her beloved husband of 58 years, William Plante. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the caring teams at Balfour and Bloom Healthcare Hospice of Longmont.

A private family service will be held to honor Suzanne in her home state of Maine.

For those who feel moved to give in Suzanne’s memory, donations may be made to HorsesMakeMiracles.org/Donations

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.howemortuary.com with her loving family.