Susan Mather

Susan Hallsworth Mather BEACON, NY- Susan Hallsworth Mather passed away peacefully and with dignity and grace on September 16th, 2011, at the Kaplan Family Hospice in Newburgh, NY, following a courageous 4 year battle with ovarian cancer. She was 63. Sue was born on February 6, 1948 in Atlanta, Georgia, to John and Sarinthia Hallsworth. Her mother predeceased her in 2007. She graduated from Clarkston High School in Atlanta, GA and went on to pursue her Bachelor's Degree in English from Georgia College in Milledgeville, GA. She married her high school sweetheart Elton Bruce Mather on November 1, 1969. Bruce and Sue spent the next 42 years living in wonderful cities such as Avondale Estates, GA and Knoxville, TN, among others, finally settling in Beacon, New York, in 2003. Sue loved the Hudson River Valley and its people and the beauty of the Hudson River. Sue spent much of her adult life as a professional fundraiser for charities such as the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, Helen Keller International, and Orbis International. Her final charitable position was Chief Development Officer for Community Access, Inc. in lower Manhattan, from which she retired in April of this year. She devoted her life to helping others and helped raise millions of dollars for people in need throughout her lifetime. Sue was also a well-loved member of her community and made friends wherever she went. She inspired many with her upbeat, positive attitude and pragmatic approach to life. She was a writer, avid reader and philosopher in her own rite, and her musings on Life are cherished by all who knew and loved her. She is survived by her husband Bruce Mather of Beacon, daughter Mary Bliss McCrossen and her husband Brent of New Orleans, LA, son Jason Mather and his wife Elizabeth of Nashville, TN and their three children, Raquel, Clayton, and Charlotte. She is also survived by her father John D. Hallsworth, Sr. of St. Helens, OR and brothers William Hallsworth, Sr., in Georgia and John Hallsworth, Jr. in Oregon. Sue is also survived by uncles, aunts and numerous cousins, all of whom loved her dearly, including special cousin and Sue's "sister" Nancy Johnston of Beacon. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in Sue's name to either (1) Community Access, Inc. Attn: Development Office, 2 Washington Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY, 10004; (2) the Foundation for Women’s Cancer, 230 W. Monroe, Suite 2528, Chicago, IL, 60606-4703; or (3) to the charity of your choice. A service in honor of her life and memory will be celebrated at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 22, at The First Presbyterian Church of Beacon, 50 Liberty Street, Beacon, NY. Additional memorial services will be held in Manhattan and Atlanta, GA, dates to be determined. The family wants to thank the physicians, nurses and staff of the New York University Clinical Cancer Center, the 5th Floor Oncology department at Vassar Hospital, the Hospice of Dutchess/Ulster County, and the Kaplan Family Hospice for the caring and professional treatment of Sue as she fought against ovarian cancer. Special thanks are also given to all of those angels - you know who you are - who helped with meals and care for Sue, sent cards, and made visits. We will be forever grateful to each of you. For directions or to send a personal condolence please visit Libbyfuneralhome.com Arrangements are under the direction of Libby Funeral Home, Inc. 55 Teller Ave. Beacon, NY 12508. Date Of Service Thursday 09/22/2011 at 6 pm Location Of Service The First Presbyterian Church of Beacon, 50 Liberty Street, Beacon