Susan M. Christmas

Susan Maureen Christmas, of York, Maine, passed away September 25, 2023, after a brief illness. She was predeceased by her husband of 35 years, James B. Bartlett, her brother, Richard Christmas of Holden, MA, and her sister Catherine (Christmas) Madden and brother-in-law, John Madden, of York, Maine.

Sue was born in Springfield, MA on April 21, 1945. From a young age, Sue loved art and carried that forward into a lifelong practice. She was a graduate of both Anna Maria College and Lesley College, where she earned degrees, respectively, in art education and school counseling. For many years, Sue was an impactful and inspirational teacher in the Arlington (MA) Public School system. In addition to her artistic talent, Sue was an impassioned campaigner for social justice. She first became active in the Arlington Teacher’s Union, later serving as its President, and the union is where she met her husband Jim. She and Jim shared a love of both education and politics, and Sue put her considerable creativity in the service of making life better for the communities around her. As a guidance counselor at Portsmouth (NH) Middle School, Sue became a touchstone and mentor to generations of Seacoast youth. She created and implemented Project Safety, a program to help teens make safe decisions in the face of drug and internet hazards, and to help parents engage in meaningful talks with their children.

Sue always loved the New England coast and its quirky seaside communities. After an early teaching job in Scituate, MA, she always looked for opportunities to spend time on and near the beach. So after living and working in Cambridge and Arlington, MA, she and Jim jumped at the opportunity to put down roots in York, Maine, where they realized a long-held dream and opened up The Christmas Rose Inn, a popular bed-and-breakfast in York Village. 

Sue was a much beloved sister, sister-in-law, and aunt. She loved nothing more than hosting large gatherings of family, spending days at York Beach, and caring for her dogs. She especially loved time with her great-nieces and -nephews, and her happiest times were when the house was full of kids and dogs and love.

Sue is survived by her sister, Clare Marie (Christmas) Nelson and her brother-in-law, Alan Nelson, of Holden, MA; her nieces and nephews, Margaret (Peggy) Nelson of Holden, MA, Timothy Nelson (Pamela) of Franklin, MA, Patrick Nelson (Jennifer) of Nashua, NH, Rachel Tinervan (Michael) of Bluffton, SC, and Douglas Madden (Susan) of Floral Park, NY, her nine great-nieces and nephews, Mackenzie, Joshua, Kyle, Delaney, Emma, Brandon, Bridget, Jenna and Pearl; and by John and Rosalind Bartlett of Billerica, MA, Richard Bartlett of Marlboro, MA, Stephen and Nett Bartlett of Raleigh, NC, Patricia Kelleher of Dennis, MA, Thomas Bartlett of Haverhill, MA, Caroline and Robert Donovan of Yarmouth Port, MA, and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank York Hospital, Pinnacle Health and Rehab of North Berwick, and Wentworth Douglas Hospice, all of Maine. Arrangements are under the care of Lucas Eaton Funeral Home of York, Maine, and services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Sue’s name to the Make a Wish Foundation of Maine or the Animal Welfare Society of Maine.
 

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