NORWICH – Susan deCordova, of the Landings on Skidaway Island in Savannah, Ga., died Sept. 5, 2008 at Hospice Savannah after a prolonged illness of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Susan was born in Brooklyn. She lived her adolescent years in Westfield, N.J., and teen years in Shreveport, La. Susan was predeceased by her parents, Howard and Virginia Ellwood.
Susan graduated from Louisiana State University and served as a stewardess for American Airlines on domestic and international flights. She married Peter deCordova in 1958. They lived in Waltham, Mass., New Orleans, La., Blackwood, N.J., Media, Pa., and Norwich, before retiring to Skidaway Island in 1998.
In 1968 she entered into a retail jewelry partnership, Just Love, on Long Beach Island, N.J. Additionally, Susan opened two other retail businesses: an outlet for Creative Playthings, and the Name Game T-shirt store, also on Long Beach Island.
She actively managed Just Love until 1985.
While in Norwich, Susan was very active in managing the gift store for the Chenango Memorial Hospital, and was a member of the Norwich Garden Club. Susan served with the House Corporation which supervised the creation of the Phi Beta Pi chapter house at Colgate University in Hamilton.
Her passions included gardening, painting, playing golf and bridge. She was also an avid antiques collector – her favorites being irons, trivets, silver demi-tasse spoons, and glass salt dishes.
Susan is survived by her husband, Peter, and daughters Diane deCordova, New York City, and Debra MacLeod (John), San Francisco, Calif.; one grandson Cameron Noel MacLeod; and one brother, James Ellwood of Scottsdale, Ariz.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Hospice Savannah, P.O. Box 13190, Savannah, GA 31416.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Fox and Weeks, 7200 Hodgson Memorial Drive, Savannah.