Susan J. Desmidt

Susan Judith DeSmidt, 57, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away suddenly on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007. She was born Aug. 18, 1949, in Roxbury, Mass., to Robert David Maher and Veronica Maher. Susan graduated from Dorchester High School in Dorchester, Mass., and attended Amherst University in Amherst, Mass. Although Susan had four brothers, and no sisters, her mother recalls 'that she was a nice little girl, and was never a problem child.' As a child she would ride her bicycle and enjoyed reading. Susan was a Scrabble buff and enjoyed playing it on the Internet. She married John DeSmidt, and they moved to Punta Gorda from Oceanside, N.Y. in 1987. Susan was a former volunteer at the animal shelter. She was the customer service manager at the Sun newspaper, Port Charlotte, Fla. office, where her appearance was noted by one of her co-workers as a life force. Susan touched many lives in many ways ... and will be missed by many in so many ways. Susan will be greatly missed by her husband of 23 years, Virgil John DeSmidt; her father and mother, Robert D. Maher and Veronica Maher; stepdaughters, Kathy Seibert of Melbourne, Fla., Margo Whitney of Lake Placid, Fla., and Wendy Kohlhoff of Colorado; brothers, Robert T. 'Bob' Maher and his wife, Kate Chambers of Bedford, Mass, Timothy B. 'Tim' Maher and his wife, Barbara Maher of Milton, Mass., Thomas J. 'Tom' Maher and his wife, Mary Cassidy-Maher of Norwood, Mass., Peter A. Maher and his wife Kathy Maher of Pepperell, Mass.; her nieces and nephews, Ben, Ana, Nick and Olga Chambers-Maher, Andrew, Matt, Beth and John Maher, and Michael, Rebecca and Sklyar Maher; six step-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren; and her dogs, Lucky Duck, Buttons, and Raggie. Memorial services will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007, at the Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services Punta Gorda Chapel, 1515 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda. 941-833-0600. To express condolences to the family, please sign the online guest book.