Susan vB Willard of Cape Elizabeth, Maine was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Everyone who met her couldn’t believe how kind and caring she was. She left this world on December 27, 2025, at the age of 84.

Susan was born to Frank van Buren and Doris Smith in Wilmington, Vermont on September 10, 1941.

She graduated from Brattlboro High School and went on to attend secretarial school. She had a fulfilling career in Accounts Payable for Brooks Brothers, formerly known as Casual Corner Group, in Enfield, Connecticut. When she was not working, she enjoyed flowers, birds and taking pictures.

Susan moved back to Brattleboro, Vermont, when she married the love of her life, Herbert (Herb) Willard. They both brought children from previous marriages to the family. Susan’s daughters, Kirsten Olson and Karla (Olson) Wheaton and Herb’s children Tim Griswold, Karen (Griswold) Robb and Scott Griswold created a blended family of seven.

Herb and Susan enjoyed multiple winters as snowbirds in the Tampa, Florida area. They moved from Brattleboro, Vermont, to Rochester, New Hampshire and finally to the Portland, Maine area to be closer to their youngest grandchildren. Herb and Susan’s marriage lasted twenty years until he passed away in January of 2022.

Susan had dementia and lived at Cape Memory Care in Cape Elizabeth, Maine for four years. Our family would like to especially thank the staff of Cape Memory Care and Gentiva Hospice for their wonderful care.

She is survived by her children: Kirsten Olson and her husband Don Bradfute of Orlando, FL; Karla (Olson) Wheaton and her husband Jason of Gorham, ME; Timothy Griswold and his wife Maria of Ballston Spa, NY; Karen (Griswold) Robb and her husband Charlie, Jr. of Brattleboro, VT; Scott Griswold of Brattleboro, VT, as well as several nieces and nephews, grandchildren, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, great-grandchildren and other extended family members whom she was very close to.

A Celebration of Life will take place in Brattleboro, Vermont in April 2026.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Portland Wheelers, P.O. Box 11314, Portland, ME 04104. She loved her bicycle rides around Cape Elizabeth with their organization.