Susan Gustafson Hunter

Susan Gustafson Hunter

Susan (Gustafson) Hunter, age 58, passed away at home on Friday, April 20, 2018 after living a beautiful life. Sue lived her life to bring love and joy to those around her and always put others before herself. Sue and her husband Dave were married for 36 years and raised a large family. She graduated from McDowell High School and Mercyhurst University with a degree in social work and a passion for the arts. Following college and pursuing life as a social worker, Sue married Dave and they lived to the fullest accomplishing all of their dreams, most particularly having a large family that stayed in Erie and remains close to one another.

Sue was especially proud of her 4 children and 7 grandchildren, all of whom she loved and cared for very much. The Hunter family traveled the world together and spent summers at the Chautauqua Institution. They enjoyed being together, particularly every holiday, birthday, and to celebrate family accomplishments. Sue really looked forward to times like that, often spending weeks preparing for family gatherings and holiday parties at her home.

Sue was an artist, creating pottery and mixed media artwork. She found a particular love for bringing clay and sand from Lake Erie together in a form of pottery known as Raku. For the past 8 years she worked teaching young children at the Inner City Neighborhood Art House about the form and function of creating art from clay. The Benedictine Sisters and students at the Art House brought her much joy and hope for the future of Erie. She also sat on the Board of Directors for the Erie Art Museum and the Northwest Pennsylvania Artists Association. She was a member of St. Peter Cathedral where she and Dave could be seen with various family members in the back row every Sunday. Sue always said "be kind and help someone". She lived that dream and wishes it for everyone.

Sue was preceded in death by her parents Leon (POW veteran of WWII Battle of the Bulge) and Florence Gustafson, her sister Carol Gustafson and her in-laws David and Mary Patricia Hunter.

She is survived by her husband Attorney David L. Hunter Jr. and children, all of Erie, David Hunter (Jessica), Sara Giammarise (Michael), Madeline Prischak (Gabriel) and Martha Hunter (Greg Flannigan). She is also survived by the rest of her extended family from all over including in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and their children. Her legacy, the grandchildren, include Audrey and Leon Hunter, Jack and Benjamin Giammarise, Gabriel II and Henry Prischak, and Mason Flannigan.

Friends and relatives are invited to call at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, 2122 Raspberry Street, on Monday from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM and may attend a Service there on Tuesday at 9:15 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Peter Cathedral, 230 West 10th Street, at 10:00 AM.. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Sue's name to The Neighborhood Art House, 201 E 10th St., Erie, PA 16503, Northwest Pennsylvania Artists Association, P.O. Box 6156, Erie, PA 16512, or the Erie Art Museum, 411 State Street, Erie, PA 16501.