Susan M. (Donlan) Wierzba

Susan Marie Wierzba
5/13/48 - 2/2/26

Susan Wierzba of Eliot, Maine died peacefully at the age of 77 surrounded in love from those
near and far after a long battle with cancer.

Susan is the youngest daughter of the late Mary Josephine Donlan and the late John Edmund
Donlan with an older sister and three younger brothers. Born in Chicago, Sue’s loving family
enjoyed living in Trinidad, Scituate Massachusetts, and Long Island, NY. She graduated from
Scituate High School in 1966 and always held a love for Scituate in her heart.

The shape of Susan’s life is one of change, curiosity, and creativity. A self described “change
junkie” she moved nearly 30 times in her life and embraced each new community with an open
heart. Sue traveled extensively overseas, moving with her growing family in the 1970s to
Riyadh Saudi Arabia, Manama Bahrain, and Worplesdon Hill England with many side
adventures to Nairobi, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Zimbabwe, and France.

Returning back to the US brought Susan together with her loving husband Dennis when she
sold him an insurance policy in NJ. In addition to finding a loving partner of Dennis in New
Jersey, Sue also discovered a love of art. Sue graduated from St Elizabeths College with a
degree in business but also earned her minor in studio arts and never looked back. From
watercolor, to chinese brush paintings and more, Sue soon found her passion in the challenging
skill of silk painting. She founded “Blooming Silk” and was a successful prize-winning artist in
numerous art shows.

In addition to her love of travel, family, and creativity, Susan was extremely active in her York
Harbor and UCC community. A master gardener, she loved being part of the York Garden Club.
She could always be her authentic self at First Parish Church in York where she loved spending
time with the children in the parish and especially welcoming new families and founding the
church Uber (chUber!). As someone often new to a community she knew the importance of an
open-hearted welcome and she herself built lifelong precious relationships with many at First
Parish. She valued highly the inclusivity and affirming mission of her church and sought to
make others welcome wherever she could. Don’t tell anyone but, fittingly, the password on her
computer is “welcome”.

Sue is survived by her loving husband Dennis Wierzba, her children Jennifer Rooney,
Christopher Dickinson, Michael Wierzba, and Stephen Dickinson, and also embraced Matt
Haviland, son of her first husband. She was incredibly close to her son- and daughters-in-law:
Alec Rooney, Rebecca Dickinson, Christina Fifer, and Kim Henderson. Sue was the incredibly
proud grandmother of Abigail Rooney of Aachen Germany, Chloe Rooney of Egham England,
Stanley Dickinson and Florence Dickinson of Leeds England, and Pierce Henderson and Halley
Henderson of Franklin, Massachusetts.

Sue is also survived by her devoted siblings, Peggy Gignilliat, Mark Donlan, John Donlan, and
Brian Donlan. She remained close for her whole life to the family of her first husband William
Dickinson.

Sue will be remembered on Friday February 27th 2026 with visiting hours from 10a-12p at
Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home with a Funeral Service to follow at 1pm at First Parish Church in York
followed by a reception with light refreshments.

In lieu of flowers, Sue would appreciate donations to the Welcoming Committee fund at First
Parish Church, 180 York St, York, ME 03909.

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