Susan Packard Lewon, originally Sarah Susan Packard, was born July 8, 1937, in Salt Lake City, to Ray (Blaine) and Dorothy Hodges Packard. She joined her sister Phyllis to round out the family. She passed away July 22, 2026 in Salt Lake, where she lived her whole life.
The family lived in the Belvedere Apartments downtown, where Sue’s parents ran what we would call a “soda fountain” on the ground floor of the apartment building. Sue graduated from West High School in 1955, and went on to the University of Utah, where she affiliated with Delta Delta Delta, graduating with a degree in Elementary Education in 1959. Her parents divorced in 1950, and at a point they lost the lease on the “soda fountain” in the Belvedere, and Sue and Grandma moved to a basement apartment in the Avenues. Sue worked to help put herself through the University, among the jobs, selling tickets to performances and football games. Through that, she met her husband Donald Lewon, and they married on June 21, 1961.
Sue taught school in Bountiful for a few years, leaving after the 1962-3 school year to start raising a family. She kept her kids busy with neighborhood play groups, was active in PTA, was a den mother for cub scouts, timer for swim meets, and always a taxi mom, sometimes with varying results as a driver. When the kids started to leave for college, she went to work as a travel agent, since the folks loved to travel. She would get ideas about where to go and what to do, and the folks and some friends would go out and have an interesting time, touring impressive places in Africa, South America, Australia, and here in the US.
Sue is preceded in death by her sister Phyllis and brother-in-law George Richardson, niece Joan Richardson, husband Don, and grandson Jacob Henderson. She is survived by daughter Anne (Jim), son Chris (Laura) and son Mark, along with grandchildren Joshua, Austin, Packard, Prescott and Sarah, nephew Scott, and nieces Janice and Jill.
A big shout out is due to the “bridge group,” a group of Tri-Delt, U of U alumni who played bridge in college, and never stopped. Sue Brown, Diane Browning, Jody Chidester, Louise Garrigues, Linda Jacobson, Mary Lynn Juhlin, Colleen Malouf, Linda Pembroke, Jan Rasmussen and Sue, played bridge once a month at rotating houses, and now at a club, socialized in other settings in smaller groups, traveled together, and represented a beautiful example of friendship that spans lifetimes. Some of the ladies preceded Mom in passing, but the example lives on in the families.
Sue volunteered way back with the Junior League, at St. Mark’s on the vestry and in the altar guild, for the Episcopal Diocese, on political campaigns and as a poll worker, at the Assistance League, because volunteer service is important, and she brought a passion for it.
She was an impressive cook with Sunday dinners always a memorable occasion for the family and any other lucky souls who attended. She was an avid gardener who always shared with and admired other peoples’ accomplishments in the same genre. Sue and Don enjoyed Saturday Evening Dance Club, and affiliations and tennis (!) at the Fort Douglas, Tennis, and Cottonwood Clubs.
A funeral service will be held at the Cathedral Church of St. Mark, 231 E. 100 South, on Saturday, August 8th at 11 AM, immediately followed by a reception at the parish hall in the Cathedral, where all are welcome. Donations may be made to the charity of your choice. The family would like to thank Roxanne Jacobs, the staff at the Ridge on Highland Drive in Holladay, and Utah Home, Health and Hospice for their care of Mom.
Sue/Mom/Mamah you are loved and already missed!
