Mrs. Susan Beatty

Devoted Mom and Avid Bridge player

WATERBURY - Susan C. Beatty of Waterbury, CT, died peacefully with her family at her side on Friday, January 20th. She was the beloved wife of the late David D. Beatty.

Susan Christensen Beatty was born in Milwaukee, WI, on May 13, 1934, and raised in nearby Whitefish Bay by her parents, Martin Christensen and Bonnie (Hutchinson) Christensen. A bright scholar and talented dancer, she enrolled in DePauw University majoring in Elementary Education. She met her future husband there. Sue and Dave married after her graduation in 1956 and settled into married and working life in Toledo, OH. In 1958, a job offer brought them to Waterbury, where they started their family.

When the children were young, the family made their biennial trip to the Midwest to visit family in Ohio and Wisconsin. Other family vacations were in New Hampshire and at the CT shore in Waterford. Sue continued to vacation in Waterford for a couple of weeks each summer, joined by her children and occasionally friends for the rest of her life. Other family traditions that began when the children were young included: the “Annual Report,” which accompanied their holiday cards to keep friends and family, near and far, up to date on the family activities; selecting, cutting, and decorating overly-large Christmas trees; and, hosting an open house each Christmas Eve for anyone who stopped by.

After Dave’s death in 1989, Sue continued the extra-large trees, with the help of her sons, and the “Annual Reports.” After the children were mostly grown, Sue re-entered the workforce in several administrative positions, working at the Bunker Hill Congregational Church, Dept. of Family Services, a session for the State Legislature, and finally, five years as Waterbury’s Republican Registrar of Voters before retiring in 2001. Sue strongly believed in the importance of community service, whether by supporting the activities of their four children, volunteering, serving on the boards/committees of many local organizations, or through financial support. Throughout her life, Sue was involved with the Girl Scouts, the Junior League of Greater Waterbury, the Waterbury Girls Club, the Greater Waterbury Campership Fund, the Family Intervention Center, the United Way, and the Silas Bronson Library, to name just a few. Sue always had a very busy and happy social life. She regularly attended many theater and music performances. For the last several years, she also attended OLLI classes (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UConn) once a week, with her curiosity leading her to take courses that ranged from Shakespeare to Human Sexuality and Gender. She loved to travel and took many cruises in Europe, Alaska, the Caribbean and one on the Mississippi River, traveled in Spain and England with family and visited San Francisco to see her grandchildren at least once a year. While at home, she liked to garden and was an avid reader. A big part of her social life was driven by her passion for playing bridge. She started playing in college and continued playing her whole life. Many of her closest friends were her bridge partners throughout the different phases of her life. Playing bridge was a top priority and joy for her.


Besides her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her companion, Ray Capozzi. She is survived by her four children: David and his wife, Madi, Chris, Kit, and Elizabeth and her husband, Anthony, and their children Marion and Cole. She also leaves extended family in the Midwest.

Funeral services for Mrs. Beatty will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at Casey’s Eastside Memorial Funeral Home and Cremation Care 1987 East Main St Waterbury CT. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family Relatives and friends may visit with the Beatty family on Friday, January 27th from 4-7 pm at the funeral home. To honor Susan’s memory and in lieu of flowers, a contribution in Susan’s name to The Greater Waterbury Campership Fund at 389 Meadow St., Waterbury, Conn., 06702 or via their website https://greaterwaterburycampershipfund.org/ , or to a charity of your choice. Would be greatly appreciated by her family. Loving-kindness is always welcome, and it only takes a moment to offer a message of condolence, words of comfort, or share a memory with the family and friends of someone important to you. Please visit the funeral home’s tribute page at www.caseyfunerals.com to do so. However, if you are able, attending the service is a thoughtful and caring way to show your support.