Suzanne Lynn O'Hare

Another angel received her wings. Suzanne Lynn O’Hare passed away on Friday, April 13, 2018 in Southampton surrounded by her large loving family, after an 18 month battle with pancreatic cancer. Sue was born and raised in Chicopee to Joan (Adams) DeFilipi and the late James DeFilipi. She graduated from Holyoke Catholic High School, received her nursing degree from HCC, BSN from Fitchburg State College, MSN from University of Hartford. Besides her father, Sue was predeceased by her first husband, Kevin O’Hare, on August 4, 2012. She is survived by her husband, Christopher Higgins of Belchertown, three sons, Sean O’Hare and his wife Alyssa of Waltham, Ryan O’Hare and Nicholas O’Hare, both of Southampton; three sisters, Diane Heilman and her husband Lloyd of FL, Lynette Moriarty and  her husband Brian of Hatfield, Celeste DeFilipi of Monson; a sister-in-law, Christine Sullivan and husband Peter of Holyoke, 9 nieces who were as close as daughters, Jack her dog and Shadow her cat. Sue had always wanted to be a nurse from a young age, and she turned out to be a wonderful nurse and caregiver. She worked for over 35 years at Baystate Medical Center, mostly in Vascular Surgery. Sue was also a full-time clinical professor of nursing at STCC and more recently at UMass-Amherst. Sue was a multitalented woman. She was a great chef who rarely followed a recipe; she loved watching the Food Network and cooking for her family and any friends the boys invited home with them. She also enjoyed working in her vegetable garden, listening to country music, and watching the predictable plot-lines on the Hallmark Channel. She loved vacationing at her happy place, Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport, and finding sand dollars. Her real love and true calling was being a Mom. She could talk to her sons about anything, much to their embarrassment at times. She was their biggest fan, and their coaches would say that she was easily the loudest person cheering at their games. Sue and her boys recently took an unforgettable trip to Vieques, PR; just Sue and her boys. Sue and Kevin raised their sons in Southampton in a wonderful neighborhood. She will be greatly missed by all her family, friends, colleagues, and the hundreds of students who trained under her. We will miss her love, kindness, strong maternal talents, and guidance. There will be a celebration of Sue’s life Sunday, April 29th at 2:00pm at The Southampton Congregational Church, 212 College Highway, Southampton. Donations in Sue’s honor can be sent to The O’Hare Cardiovascular Research Fund at Brigham and Women’s Hospital via crowdrise.org or to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network via pancan.org.  The Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

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