Margaret "Susie" (McBeth) Hayden

Margaret "Susie" McBeth Hayden, 93, died peacefully at Duncaster on December 17, 2011, surrounded by the love of her family. She was predeceased in 2010 by her beloved husband Bruce P. Hayden, after nearly 70 years of marriage. Susie was born in Saginaw, Michigan in 1918, the only child of George Cameron McBeth and Myrtle Parkinson McBeth. She is survived by her three children and their spouses: Lynn Hayden Wadhams and husband John (West Hartford), Ann Hayden Hamilton and husband George (Wayland, MA), Robert McBeth Hayden and wife Milica (Pittsburgh, PA); eight grandchildren: William and Alitia Cross; Heather, George and Bruce Hamilton and Katherine Hamilton Vosker; Tiana and Stefan Hayden; and eight great grandchildren. She also leaves her niece, Judith Herseth (Reston, VA) and Judith's daughter Margaret. Susie and Bruce were married in 1940, upon her graduation from the University of Michigan. She joined Bruce in Connecticut and lived for many years in West Hartford before moving to Bloomfield in 1994. They traveled the world together and instilled in their family an interest in and appreciation for other countries and cultures. Both Susie and Bruce were members of the generation that regarded community service to be as important as career. She was a tireless volunteer assuming leadership roles in many organizations. She served as a deacon and an elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church, was on the board of the YWCA, chaired of the Festival of Trees at the Wadsworth Atheneum among others. She completed ESL training and enjoyed tutoring others. Susie was a proud member of the Town and County Club for many years as well as an avid golfer and bridge player at the Farmington Country Club and Hartford Golf Club. She was a matriarch in the best sense of the word and leaves a legacy to her family and friends that celebrates the strengths of family and service to others. A service to celebrate her life will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in the Spring at a date to be announced. Contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), 26 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 or to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2080 Boulevard, West Hartford, CT 06107. Arrangements are being made by the Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home, West Hartford. For online condolences, please visit www.taylorandmodeen.com.