Susan M. Palumbo

Susan Palumbo, 54, died bravely, surrounded by her loving sisters, on Friday, June 9, 2017 at Brigham and Women's Hospital, after a long illness in which her trademark resiliency and indomitable spirit defined her journey. She was the much beloved sister of  Ann Palumbo Flannery of Franklin, MA, Jane Palumbo Sheehan and her husband Tom of Winchester, MA, Mary Palumbo and her husband George Yerger of Narragansett, RI and Ann Marcoccio Zainyeh and her husband George of Jamestown, RI.  Born in North Providence, RI, she was the loving daughter of the late Joseph and Viola (Pearce) Palumbo. Susan had lived in the Boston area for the last 30 years. Besides her sisters, she is survived by her treasured nieces and nephews Joe, Daniel and his wife Meghan, Christine and her husband Matt, Laura, Nicholas, Michael and his wife Jules, Kenneth, Mark, James and Elizabeth and is the cherished great-aunt of Sarah and James. Susan was a special person - a wonderful sister, a world-traveling adventurous aunt, an educated poet and a dedicated lifelong friend to many. Susan's unique talents were numerous, but she remained grounded in humility and humor. Hers was a life devoted to love of learning, first as the valedictorian of her high school class, then as an honors graduate of Harvard University and Simmons College. Her sense of "being" --- whether as a Purser on the Mississippi Queen, the imaginer and chief coordinator of her solo or family group worldwide expeditions, the engaged reader of a good book, or as a valued member of the Hyde Park Poetry Group, was to a life lived fully and always with a twinkling brown eye towards her next discovery. Susan will be greatly missed. But she leaves us with wonderful memories and a lasting legacy. A liturgy of Christian Burial will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. in Holy Ghost Church, 472 Atwells Avenue, Providence, RI. Burial will be in St. Ann's Cemetery, Cranston, RI. Visiting hours are 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Maceroni Funeral Home, 1381 Smith Street, North Providence.  In lieu of flowers, donations offered in her name to the Boston Health Care for Homeless Program, 780 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118 would be greatly appreciated.