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In memory of

Susanna Margaretha Doerig

Richmond, MA

August 2, 1950 - May 9, 2018

Aug 2, 1950 - May 9, 2018

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Susanna M. Doerig, aged 67, passed away on May 9, 2018 in the loving presence of her husband, Jean-Pierre Doerig, and daughter, Nicole Antil at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston after a heroic fight with gastric cancer. Susanna was born on August 2, 1950 in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland.

Susanna was raised in Switzerland and at the age of 22 married her beloved husband, Jean-Pierre (JP) before embarking on the adventure of a lifetime as they moved to the United States in 1973. Here, they raised their two children, Marc and Nicole, and Susanna found her niche teaching fitness. She inspired countless senior citizens through her exercise classes, teaching them how to live active, healthy lives. Her boundless energy earned her the nickname “little bouncy thing” and she poured her heart and soul into every class she taught and every person she trained.

The epitome of a healthy person and lifestyle, Susanna loved cooking, hiking, skiing, and gardening. A creative spirit, she found great joy in creating. Her exquisite quilts, winter hats, scarves, and sweaters are all evidence of her talents, but nothing is greater evidence of her creativity than the beautiful homes she created – homes which warmly embraced her family and invited visitors to linger. Ever the hostess, Susanna found great joy in putting on elaborate dinner parties, serving as yet another outlet for her innate creativity.

Throughout her life, Susanna lived in many places, but it was in 1983 when they purchased their cherished apartment in Merligen, Switzerland, that she found her true home.

In 2008 when Lorelei, Marc’s first daughter was born, Susanna happily took on the new role of grandmother. She embraced the role with passion, love, and great joy, and with the birth of each grandchild (Evelyn in 2011, William in 2012, and Aidan in 2013), her love and joy grew infinitely. She loved nothing more than the sound of one of her grandchildren calling her by name, “mamama.”
In 2014, Susanna and JP retired from their lifelong careers and moved together with their daughter, Nicole and son-in-law, Pete to a rural property in Richmond, MA. Here, she would once again put her creativity to work, this time in renovating her beloved cottage, right next door to Nicole, Pete, William, and Aidan.

Susanna is survived by her husband, Jean-Pierre; her son Marc and his wife Valerie, who have built their home in Bern, Switzerland; her daughter Nicole and her husband Pete; and her four treasured grandchildren Lorelei, Evelyn, William, and Aidan; and her sister Maya Haeni.

In keeping with Susanna’s wishes to experience joy in life, her family will be honoring her through a Celebration of Life on June 2 at 10am at their home in Richmond, MA. Friends and family are invited to come help plant the cottage garden she envisioned and designed together with Nicole in the weeks before her passing.

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