Susie Mcconnell

Mary Susan "Susie" McConnell, 69, of Franklin, died at 5:50 p.m. Saturday, September 20, 2014 at UPMC Northwest, Seneca.

A daughter of the late Lewis Judson and Jane Ellis Judson she was born in Franklin on August 11, 1945. She was raised in Franklin and was active in school plays, cheerleading, honor society and the annual Broadcast. She graduated in 1963. At Slippery Rock University she was a cheerleader, active in Alpha Xi Delta sorority and she received several literature awards. In 1967 she received her bachelor's degree. She earned her Master's degree in British Literature, as part of her studies she studied Gaelic at the University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Susie taught English at Penn Hills and Alexandria, VA, but most of her teaching career was at Oil City High School where she taught for 24 years. As chair of the English Department she organized student trips through Great Britain, directed several plays, co-produced, directed and choreographed numerous musicals.

For several years she owned and operated McConnell School of Dance in Franklin. She was a co-owner of "South Paw productions" a business that custom made stuffed bears and bunnies.
Through her earlier years she had been active in several theatre organizations, most notably Theatre Now, The Arlington Players, Hexagon and Little Theatre of Alexandria. She was active with the Franklin Civic Operetta Association as a performer, director and choreographer. She danced in and choreographed FCOA's very first production. In 1999 Franklin Fine Arts Council named her Artist of the Year, recognizing her body of work with FCOA.

An active member of the BPO Elks Lodge #110 in Franklin where she recently served as Exalted Ruler , she served on the scholarship committee, she annually organized the Elk's Steeler tailgate parties as fund raisers as she was passionate about raising money for the Elk's Charities, specifically the PA Home Nursing Program.

She loved to golf, after her retirement from teaching she worked at Sleepy Hollow Golf Course. She organized the annual Susan L. Daniels Golf Outing, now in its 18th year, as a scholarship fundraiser.

Traveling through the British Isles, especially Scotland, following and cheering for the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins, following her fantasy football team, decorating and entertaining at Christmas, sewing and cross-stitching were all joys in her life. As was her beloved Scottish terrier, Macbeth.

On December 9, 1967 she married John McConnell; he survives along with her son Chris of Franklin, her mother Jane Judson, three sisters Sally Mays and her husband Jack, Betsy Judson and Amy Burak Judson all of Franklin and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father and a brother, Ted Judson.

Friends will be received in the Huff Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 312 W. Park St. from 1-3 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday.

Funeral services will be held in the funeral home at 11 a.m. Wednesday with the Rev. Richard C. Rowe, interim pastor of St. John Episcopal Church officiating.

Interment will follow at Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Franklin Public Library, Franklin Elks' Scholarship Program, the Barrow Civic Theatre, or to a charity of one's choice.

Online condolences, flowers or sympathy cards may be sent to her family by visiting www.HuffFuneral.com