Susan Eckelmann Devin, age 89 years, of Venice, FL died on August 2, 2022 in Venice, Florida. Mrs. Devin was born on February 25, 1933, in St. Louis, MO, the daughter of the late Frank and Vera O’Leary. A proud St. Louis native, Mrs. Devin graduated from St. Louis University in 1955 with a degree in English and married there in January,1956.
Mrs. Devin and her family lived in New Orleans and Cincinnati before settling in Watchung, NJ for many years. While in Watchung, she served as a city councilmember and police commissioner—bringing a keen intellect and broad perspective to issues facing the community at that time.
In 1999, Mrs. Devin retired to the West Coast of Florida where she met, Ed Devin. They married and shared several of their happiest years together before he passed away unexpectedly in 2008.
Mrs. Devin was a woman with varied interests and talents, ranging from tennis and bridge to books and politics. When she took up golf in her later years, she took it up whole-heartedly, fully enjoying the game and the many friends she made playing it. She was a fighter. When given a diagnosis of stage four melanoma and told she only had months to live, Mrs. Devin defied the odds and lived another 17 years. Most of all, Mrs. Devin loved her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren unconditionally and passionately. She was loved in return.
Mrs. Devin is preceded in death by her husband, Ed Devin, her son, Edward Eckelmann and her sister, Lucy Moreau. She is survived by her daughter and her three sons, Ellen Clark of Oceanside, CA, George Eckelmann (Jane) of Stockton, NJ, David Eckelmann (Sarah) of Greenbrook, NJ, and Daniel Eckelmann (Verna) of Ocala, FL. She is also survived by her five grandchildren, David Eckelmann (Katie), Katherine Eckelmann, Matthew Clark, Andrew Eckelmann, and Christopher Eckelmann. And she is survived by four siblings: Douglas O’Leary, Nancy DeMaria, Judy Bergin, and Denny O’Leary.
There will be a service in memory of Mrs. Devin’s life this Fall. Memorial contributions in her honor may be made to the Melanoma Research Foundation at www.curemelanoma.org.
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