MADISON, Wis. - Suzanne Sieg Withington, 73, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend, died Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009.

She was born Feb. 16, 1936, at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., the eldest child of Richard and Elsie Sieg. Her father pursued a military career, graduating from West Point in 1933, third in his class.

The family moved from Washington, D.C., to Boston, where her dad obtained his master's degree at MIT, then to Panama.

On Dec. 7, 1941, about the time the U.S. entered World War II, the family moved from Panama to Texas.

After the war, they moved to Germany and ultimately back to Virginia. She attended and graduated from Albemarle High School in Charlottesville, Va. She was crowned Miss Albemarle County her senior year. She went to Longwood College in Farmsville, Va., for two years and then moved to the Washington, D.C., area in 1956.

She met Paul Withington in 1957, and they were married at the Army Navy Country Club on Sept. 19, 1959.

They began their life together with Paul working for the Wall Street Journal in New York City. They subsequently moved to Chicago, then Milwaukee, back to New York City, and then finally settled in Woodstock.

She dedicated her life as a mother, raising her three children, Lisa, Doug and Valerie. She was active in a number of family, school, community and church events. She was active in the church choir, singing alto at St. Mary's in Woodstock.

Her husband retired from the Wall Street Journal, and the family moved to Wausau, Wis. While the children were in high school, she started working as a school secretary at Newman High School until 1985.

While in Wausau, the family bought a cottage in Phelps, Wis., the site of many happy annual get-togethers for family and friends. The get-togethers have continued for 33 years.

Never to be daunted by warnings about returning "home again," she chose in 1985 to live in Woodstock again, where she continued her career as school secretary at Northwood Junior High.

They moved to Madison, Wis., where they had been living for the past 14 years. She was involved in the choirs of St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church.

She was known for her graciousness, sincerity, beauty and compassion. She was an extraordinarily talented seamstress who created clothing and gifts for the children, grandchildren and friends.

She is survived by her husband, Paul of Madison; her sister, Lisa Sieg of Rochester, N.Y.; her brothers, Peter Sieg of Gainesville, Fla., and Jeffrey Sieg of Hauuka, Hawaii; and her children, Lisa Vasiloff (Karl), who have two boys, Max and Paul, of Newton, Mass., Douglas (Jennifer), who also have two boys, Christopher and Charlie, of Western Springs and Valerie (Bill), who have three children, Caroline, Emma and Will, of Huntington Beach, Calif. Her seven cherished grandchildren were the joy of her (Nana's) life.

After a brief three-week illness, while at St. Mary's Hospital, Sue and Paul celebrated their 50th anniversary Sept. 19. She was moved to HospiceCare, where she was lovingly cared for by doctors, nurses and staff.

The visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, at Gunderson West Funeral Home, 7435 University Ave., Middleton, Wis. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, 5313 Flad Ave., Madison, with Monsignor Michael Burke presiding. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Madison.

The family would like to extend their thanks to Dr. Santiago Hernandez at St. Mary's Hospital, who was candid but compassionate.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in memory of Suzanne Withington to HospiceCare Inc., 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711.

For information, call the funeral home at 608-831-6761     

Obituary submitted by Sam Clarke.