Suzanne Hughes Landen

Suzanne Hughes Landen lived a long and beautiful life—97 years marked by grace, style,

laughter, and a deep, unwavering love for the people around her.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in Grosse Pointe, Suzanne came into the world with a

natural elegance that would define her for the rest of her life. She attended Sacred Heart School

and later the University of Michigan. In 1950, she married David Pattinson Hummer, and

together they raised five children with an eye for beauty and intention. Later, Suzanne married

again, marrying William J. Landen in 1979. Together, they moved from Southern California to

Newtown Square, Pennsylvania—a place she would come to call home for decades.

Suzanne was not someone who stood on the sidelines of life. She stepped into it fully,

generously, and with purpose. At Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, she became a deeply active

member, serving on committees and forming meaningful, lasting friendships. She gave her time

to others through Meals on Wheels, and through organizations like Children’s Home Society,

P.E.O., and Kappa Alpha Theta, always guided by a quiet belief that community matters.

She filled her days with the things she loved. Books were a constant companion, and her book

clubs were as much about connection as they were about stories. She loved to cook and gather

people together, especially through her Supper Club, where meals turned into evenings of

laughter and conversation. She had a remarkable eye for design—she loved art, color and

beautiful spaces. She traveled with curiosity and joy, returning again and again to Paris, a city

that matched her sense of beauty and style.

Even in her later years, Suzanne moved through the world with energy and intention. She was an

avid power-walker and loved staying active. But to know Suzanne was to know a woman who

loved to laugh. She carried herself with unmistakable style and a sharp wit, and she had a

fantastic sense of humor. Few things delighted her more than laughter—and no one made her

laugh quite like her beloved brother, Victor Hughes. Their bond was deep and enduring, filled

with joy, shared memories, and the kind of laughter that only comes from a lifetime of love.

But more than anything, Suzanne loved her family.

She is survived by her five children: Carolyn Pattinson Howitt (Kenneth Howitt), Elizabeth

Frances O’Nan (Darrell O’Nan), Suzanne Hummer Van Valkenburgh (John Van Valkenburgh),

Katherine Mary Bootman (Scott W. Bootman), and Cyrus David Robert Hummer (Susan

Hummer); her stepson, Jeff Landen. Suzanne had 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren

who she delighted in. In the later years of her life, Suzanne moved back to the west coast and

was able to spend a great deal of time with her family, where she was surrounded by love.

Suzanne leaves behind not just memories, but a way of living: with style, and elegance—with

curiosity, and kindness—with joy and I true love of connection.