CHARLTON, MA—Suzanne K. (Keating) Wente, 87, passed away on Monday, July 10, in the Overlook Masonic Healthcare Center, Charlton, Mass., surrounded by friends and family.
Her husband, William Zeller Wente, died in 2007. She leaves her two daughters, Carol W. Snider of Denver, Colo., and Carrie E. Wente of Chicago, Ill.; a stepson, James Wente of Toronto, Ontario; two stepdaughters, Margaret Wente of Toronto and Sally Wente of Barrie, Ontario; eight grandchildren, Evan, Lauren, Ryan, Erin, Jesse, Maggie, Zachary and Leona; and three great-grandchildren.
She was born in Evanston, Ill., the daughter of Clarence and Esther (Amsteen) Keating. She received her associates from Stevens College and her bachelor’s from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Suzanne, or Zani as she was known to her friends, was a dance teacher for 39 years at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Ill., in a comprehensive program she built from the ground up and later became the chairperson of the department.
She taught dance to thousands of students and was a mentor and mother to many of them. After retiring she and her husband moved to Kilmarnock, where she took part in theater with the Lancaster Players.
After her husband’s passing she moved to the Overlook retirement community in Charlton, Mass. There she took part in a play readers group and enjoyed playing pool. She was also an avid reader and had a love for crossword puzzles.
She will be buried alongside her husband in the Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery, Kilmarnock. There are no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the New Trier Fine Arts Association, 385 Winnetka Avenue, Winnetka, IL 60093-4295.
The Daniel T. Morrill Funeral Home, 130 Hamilton St., Southbridge, MA, is directing arrangements. www.morrillfuneralhome.com
