Suzanne Drake Thompson

In loving memory of Suzanne Drake Thompson who passed away peacefully on April 22, 2018 in Annapolis, Maryland surrounded by loved ones. She is survived by husband of over 55 years William N. Thompson; her two children Greg and Eric and their wives Jane and Mary; four grandchildren, Ella, Minna, Martin and Shire; her brother Robert Drake; and her sister Diane Vasko.

Suzanne was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 5, 1942, the daughter of Eleanor and Robert Drake. She lived in numerous places over the years including; Boston MA, Manchester NH, Fairfield CT, and primarily in Keene & Chesterfield NH. In 2016, she and her husband retired to Heritage Harbour in Annapolis, MD.

Music was an important part of Suzanne’s life, in particular, the music of Bach and Mozart. She earned a B.S. Degree in music education from the University of New Hampshire and spent her career teaching music in elementary schools. Her love of music was something she carried beyond the classroom. She taught private piano lessons, formed several piano groups with friends, accompanied choirs, and sometimes jammed along with her sons’ rock bands. Over the last several years, she particularly enjoyed being part of the Heritage Harbour Chorus. Suzanne leaves a legacy of music and inspiration through all of the people that she reached. She continued to sing and play right up until her final day.

Suzanne was a very spiritual person and was actively involved in church and worship her entire life. More recently, she enjoyed being a member of the Saint Philip’s Episcopal Church in Annapolis, MD, where she sang in the choir and participated actively in the church community. Suzanne saw a deep connection between her faith and social responsibility. She always had a voice for the poor and underrepresented in the world and was an active peace and civil rights advocate her entire life.

Known for her intelligence, sense of humor, high energy, and thoughtfulness, she never lost her love for learning and challenging herself. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, visiting museums, attending concerts, and gardening. Her alpacas and llamas provided the wool she loved to spin. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren dance and play sports, and remained an avid Red Sox fan.

Suzanne’s family was always the most important thing in life to her and she was actively involved in the lives of her children and grandchildren. She maintained many meaningful friendships over the years and inspired so many people through her music and kindness; she will be dearly missed.

A graveside committal service will be held on Saturday, May 12th at 2:00PM in the Friedsam Cemetery, Route 63, Chesterfield, NH. Family and friends are welcome to attend.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 19th at 2:00PM in Saint Philip’s Episcopal Church, 730 Bestgate Road, Annapolis, MD.

In lieu of flowers, the following organizations would welcome donations in Suzanne’s memory:

Saint Philip’s Episcopal Church, (www.stphilpsannpolis.org), 730 Bestgate Road, Annapolis, MD 21401, or to Heritage Harbour Chorus (www.hhchorus.com), PO Box 6396, Annapolis, MD 21401.