Susan M. Rooney of Newtown passed away on November 17, 2023, at Danbury Hospital following an all too short, but graceful, journey through pancreatic cancer. She spent her last moments peacefully surrounded by family and humor, which is what mattered most to her.

Susan was born September 4, 1947, to Constance (Duggan) Unger and Clifford S. Unger, Jr in Bridgeport and was raised in Trumbull.

She attended Catholic schools — St Theresa’s, Notre Dame, and Sacred Heart University, where she was a member of the CYO and SHU reunion club. It was at Sacred Heart University that Susan met her future husband, William J. Rooney, Jr. They would go on to have three children: Constance Schmiedecke (Donald), William J. Rooney, III (Rachel Dorfman), and Clairemarie Rooney (Andrea Rocco), whom Susan would raise to be loving, kind, driven, and constantly curious about the world.

While raising her three children, Susan returned to nursing school, graduating from Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing in 1986, fulfilling her lifelong dream. After starting her career at Bridgeport Hospital, Susan went on to work for 25 years for the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services at both Fairfield Hills Hospital until its closing, and then Connecticut Valley Hospital until her retirement in 2009. It was there that she developed lifelong friendships and discovered her gift. She touched thousands of lives with her skill, compassion, and a listening ear, assisting so many through their years of sobriety.

Second to her family, Susan’s other love was travel. In her life she was able to travel to innumerable countries. She proudly held dual citizenship in both the US and Ireland, which she would always admit was her favorite place to travel, including a trip this past January when she was able to visit the farm in Tipperary that has been in her family for centuries.

Susan was predeceased by mother Constance (Duggan) Unger, father Clifford S. Unger Jr, husband William J. Rooney Jr, and her beloved son William J. Rooney III, who she will now lovingly be reunited with.

Along with Susan’s two daughters and their spouses, she is survived by eight grandchildren: Keara, Jacob, Evan, Graydon, Abigail, Tessa, Zadok, and Liam; and one great-grandson, Mason. A more loving and devoted grandmother could never have been found. Her family was her life’s great work.

Susan was a woman like no other. Independent, intelligent, loving, intuitive, and loyal. Susan’s children ask that people remember their mother with the Irish Prayer. “May the road rise to meet you; may the wind be always at your back; may the sun shine warm upon your face; the rain fall soft upon your fields; and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”

The family will receive relatives and friends at Redgate-Hennessy Funeral Home, located at 4 Gorham Place in Trumbull, on Friday, November 24, from 4 to 7 pm. A prayer service will be celebrated at 4 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary in Susan’s name at CVH Foundation Inc PO Box 3571 Newtown, CT 06470.

To send online condolences please visit redgatehennessy.com.