Obituary of Susan C. Parry

Rensselaer- Susan Campbell Parry, passed away on January 22, 2022, in the loving arms of her five children after a courageous seven-month battle with ovarian cancer. Sue was born on December 19, 1936, the oldest child of Burton and Margaret Campbell of Albany, NY. She was a graduate of Vincentian Institute High School and St. Rose College in Albany. Sue also received her Master’s Degree in Education from SUNY Albany. She began her teaching career in the Town of Colonie, but is best known by former students for her many years in Rensselaer at St. Joseph’s Catholic and Van Rensselaer Elementary Schools. Sue was most proud of her time as the First Grade teacher at St. Joseph’s. It was not unusual for her to be approached wherever she was and told by a now young adult that they had been a student of hers and how much she meant to them. Additionally, she was well known by many as Mrs. Claus, wife of Rensselaer’s most famous Santa. Sue also worked part-time at Yankee Trails as a Tour Escort, and often accompanied her husband Tom “Rusty” on many trips. In their free time, they also enjoyed traveling the world together, having visited many parts of Europe, South America and almost every state in our own beautiful country. And one of their favorite activities was to jump in Tom’s convertible with the top down and just go for a ride! Sue was a dedicated parishioner of the Parish of St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph of Rensselaer, and had been involved in many Parish administrative activities. Most of all, Sue was a devoted wife and mother to her family and loved spending time with them. She raised her five children and was very involved in helping to raise her 13 grandchildren and three great-grandsons. Sue was predeceased by the love of her life and her rock, her husband Tom to whom she was married for 53 years prior to his passing in 2013. She is survived by her five children, Donna (Michael) Bushey of Rensselaer, Timothy (Vittoria) Parry of East Greenbush, Susie (Paul) Malinowski of Clifton Park, Christopher (Lorri) Parry of East Greenbush and Diana (Tom) Beaudoin of Cranberry Township, PA; her grandchildren Lauren Bushey (David Hurley), Andrew (Lisa) Bushey, Stephen (Ashley) Parry, Ryan Parry, Emily and Aidan Malinowski, Rachel Parry, Kristen and Nicky Lemme, and Hannah, Jack, Olivia and Ava Beaudoin; and her great grandsons Luke and Finn Parry, and Landon Hurley. Sue was predeceased by her only brother and best friend Andy Campbell and her nephew Jeff Campbell, and is survived by her sister-in-law "Bunny" Campbell of Camillus, and nieces Julie (Jay) Allen of Egg Harbor, NJ and Beth Rockwell (Bruce Mulholland) of Oswego, NY. Sue is also survived by many other relatives and very close friends, including her “S.K.I.” Club buddies whom she loved so dearly. The Parry Family would like to express their sincere thanks to all of the Van Rensselaer Manor Nursing Home and Community Hospice staff who touched her, and all of their lives while she was in their loving care. There are too many names to possibly mention regarding all the amazing “Angels” who cared for Sue at the Van Rensselaer Manor; her family has personally spoken to some and will continue to contact others to thank and recognize them for the exemplary care they provided her. A special thanks is extended to Hospice Nurse Sandi for helping Sue and her family navigate through the many challenges of cancer and for always being available, even on days off.

The funeral will be from St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph Church, Herrick Street, Rensselaer, Friday at 10:00 a.m. where a Liturgy of Christian Death and Burial will be offered. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the W.J. Lyons, Jr. Funeral Home, 1700 Washington Avenue Rensselaer on Thursday, January 27 from 4 to 7 p.m. Inurnment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Greenbush. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Community Hospice, 310 S. Manning Blvd, Albany, NY 12208 or at https:givetocommunityhospice.org.