Obituary: Susan Sommers Parsons
Susan Sommers Parsons
NORWAY – Susan Irene Sommers Parsons died on Aug. 14, 2026, at the age of 77, from progressive supranuclear palsy.
She was born on April 14, 1949, to Dorothy (Hiestand) and Harold Sommers in Logan, Ohio, where she attended the local public schools and graduated as salutatorian. Sue was an excellent student and talented musician, winning statewide awards for her achievements in Latin, Spanish, English, biology, and math. She played the clarinet and piano for the band, marching band, and various ensembles, while being a majorette and cheerleader. High school also marked the commencement of her lifelong career as a church organist.
Sue earned her B.A. and M.A. degrees in French and French literature at Ohio University in Athens. During both her undergraduate and graduate programs, she studied abroad in France, which she greatly enjoyed. While studying for her master’s degree, Sue kept busy, continuing her vocation as an organist at St. Paul’s in Logan, and starting her career as a French and English teacher at Berne Union High School.
In 1983, Sue caught the eye of the Rev. Timothy H. Parsons, who courted her as both an organist and a wife, writing daily love letters from his post in Iowa. The couple married on a frigid day in December, and Sue joined Tim in Iowa, where they would later welcome their daughter, Frances Elizabeth.
The next several years were spent following Tim’s career in the parish ministry, moving to towns in New Jersey and upstate New York. When Sue was not able to find full-time teaching positions, she found other work: substitute teaching, visiting and conversing in Spanish with the families of immigrant farm workers, utilizing her French cooking skills as a caterer, and becoming a licensed travel agent. Her career as a beloved organist and choir director proceeded at several parishes.
Sue enjoyed many years teaching French in Central New York. Throughout her career, she took students to both France and Quebec on field trips, organized French clubs, and accompanied performances and events on the piano. She was voted by students as teacher of the year, had a yearbook dedicated to her, and received staff recognition awards. Outgoing and nurturing, she bonded well with her students.
Before retiring from teaching, Sue enjoyed extracurricular retail work at Coldwater Creek. Ever the fashionista, coworkers joked that her commitment to shopping may have kept the entire company afloat.
Sue would later settle in Maine, joining Tim in his retirement, where she planned several trips abroad to Ireland, Scotland, and England. These memorable trips were joyous occasions that enhanced Sue and Tim’s love for each other. She continued as an organist and choir director at both Christ Episcopal Church in Norway and then St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in Windham until her disease progressed to the point that she no longer could.
Sue was gentle, generous, affable, and likable; she was creative, intelligent, hard working, and determined. She was loved by family and friends.
Sue is survived by her husband, Timothy Parsons; her daughter, Frances Parsons; her siblings, Linda Sommers Johnson, Harper Sommers, and Cynthia Sommers; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at the Chandler Funeral Home, 45 Main St., South Paris, on Friday, Aug. 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral services will be on Saturday, Aug. 29, at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, 40 Windham Ctr. Rd., Windham at 11 a.m. A private burial will follow.
Online condolences may be shared with her family at http://www.chandlerfunerals.com
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes in-memoriam donations to Sue’s favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
(stjude.org).
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