Suzanne Motzenbecker

Suzanne Brown Motzenbecker, age 89, of Cranston died Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Victoria Court, Cranston. Mrs. Motzenbecker was born June 8, 1923 in Newport, RI She is the daughter of the late Lawrence E. and the late Margaret (Weaver) Brown. She was the former wife of the late Edward Motzenbecker of Newark, NJ. Suzanne was a direct descendant of John and Priscilla (Mullins) Alden, who arrived in New England on the Mayflower in 1620, and a direct descendant of Chad Brown of Rhode Island, who was one of the original settlers of Providence, RI in 1638. On her mother's side, she is a descendant of Clement Weaver, who was one of the original 48 original grantees of land by King Charles I in what is now East Greenwich, RI. Proud of her ancestry, Su often spoke of the many members of her family whom she lived with and admired. She modeled her life in their essence, remembering the golden rule "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you". Mrs. Motzenbecker attended Rogers High School and Milgrim Secretarial School in Newport. She worked as a bookkeeper at the Pelham Garage, which was owned and operated by her mother, Margaret W. Brown, for many years before taking a position at the Naval Torpedo Station on Goat Island in Newport during WWII. She worked there from 1941-1943, in the Procurement Engineering Division. She lived in Washington D.C., Fairfax, VA, Louisville, KY and Cherry Hill, NJ before moving back to Newport in 1967. Su worked for the Newport School Department in many capacities from 1969 until she retired in 1989. She was involved in the Title 1 Program and ended her career as a Microfilm Technician in the Superintendant's Office. After retiring, she worked part time for the Student Ocean Challenge in Jamestown providing clerical services for programs run worldwide through school. She often called herself a "jack-of-all-trades, master of none" and was proud of the accomplishments she made in her life. Recently she lived in St. Marys, GA with her daughter for over 4 years. Suzanne enjoyed the warmer weather and the genteel southern hospitality, but longed to return to RI. She was an avid puzzler, and spent many hours crafting with the seniors at her home in Magnolia Manor. She had a thirst for history and genealogy, dancing, the weather, and loved spending time with her family. She was granted her wish and the family returned to RI in 2012 to live in Cranston. Besides her daughter and son in law, Elizabeth Motzenbecker Paquin and Gary Paquin of Cranston, she leaves behind two loving granddaughters, Amanda B. Paquin Zelazo and her husband Dylan of Cranston and Emily W. Paquin also of Cranston, as well as many long time friends in New England and along the East Coast. She was a devoted mother and friend to all who knew her. She is preceded in death by her brother, the late Clement Weaver Brown, and her son Jeffrey Motzenbecker. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm in the Hambly Funeral Home, Brick House, 30 Red Cross Avenue, Newport, RI 02840 Her funeral will be in the funeral home on Wednesday February 27, 2013 at 11:00am followed by a burial in Island Cemetery, Newport. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org or Alzheimer's Association National Office, 225 North Michigan Avenue, FL 17, Chicago, IL 60601 in her memory or to Beacon Hospice, 1 Catamore Blvd., East Providence, RI 02914 Cemetery Details Island Cemetery 30 Warner Street Newport, RI, Visitation FEB 26. 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM Hambly Funeral;Home 30 Red Cross Avenue Newport, RI, US Service FEB 27. 11:00 AM Hambly Funeral;Home 30 Red Cross Avenue Newport, RI, US