Susan Cecilia Crowthers Nurmi (nee Spinosa)

Born the eighth of nine children to Cecilia (Ciarrocchi) and Guiseppe Spinosa in Philadelphia, PA. Pre deceased by her loving husbands, Charles C. Crowthers, Sr. and Olavi Nurmi as well as her son, Charles C. Crowthers, Jr. (Deloris) Beloved mother of Bette and the late Chet (Hatch) and Joann and Scott (Wolfinger). Loving grandmother to, the late September Marie Elizabeth Crowthers, Susan Crowthers Glenn, Chuck and Dee Crowthers, Dawn Crowthers, Bobbi Jo Hatch, Lynda (Hatch) and Mike Howes. Erin and Sean Wolfinger. Great-grandmother to Samantha Glenn, Curt and Courtney Crowthers, Heather Kantirakis, Logan Will, Brett and Amanda Bristow, Desireah and Destiny Howes, and many nieces and nephews. Susan shared a special relationship with her sister Gilda Duffy and her children Cecilia, Elizabeth and Christopher (Jennifer) who she loved as her own.    A hardworking woman, Susan worked as a waitress for many, many years to help support her family. She and her husband Charlie, bought a home in Delran, New Jersey in 1968. She continued to work as a waitress at Ivystone Inn in Pennsauken, NJ and in 1972 continued that career at RCA in Moorestown, NJ.  In 1978 Susan applied for an opening in the electronics department of RCA. She worked her way up to First Class Wireman assembling circuit boards and antenna troughs for ships in the AEGIS Guided Missile program for RCA and the US Navy.  She acknowledged by management for building many “perfect” troughs, which was not an easy feat.  She said one of her greatest professional accomplishments was having the honor of being a member of the crew that built the antenna system for the first Ticonderoga class cruiser, the USS Ticonderoga (CG 47), which was decommissioned in September 2004. Susan’s son, Charlie, who was a safety award winning crane operator at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, installed that antenna system onto the cruiser. Making that a true family affair project.  Susan’s greatest happiness was spending time with her family and making little trinkets to share with them. She crocheted, knitted learned to quilt and made many arts and crafts projects. After retiring from RCA she and her husband, Charlie, moved to Maine where they lived with her daughter Bette and her family. Ten years after her beloved Charlie’s death, she met and married an incredibly sweet man, Olavi Nurmi. Not long after Olavi’s passing Susan returned to New Jersey moving into the Maple Shade Mews apartment complex in Maple Shade. At the age of 86, from her apartment, she began a little jewelry and clothing alterations business. She handmade many pairs of earrings, bracelets and necklaces and repaired buttons, hems and seams on clothing for many of her neighbors.  Those neighbors became wonderful friends that she treasured. At the age of 92, her health began to decline and she made the difficult decision to move in with her daughter Joann and son-in-law Scott who now live in the home Susan and Charlie bought back in 1968. This home holds many of the happiest memories for Susan and her family. It was an honor for Bette, Joann and Scott to care for her during her last months here. She passed peacefully on the morning of June 21, surrounded by family, knowing many loved her. Susan requested that there be no public services. To honor that request there will be a graveside ceremony where she will be laid to eternal rest next to the love of her life, Charlie. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation in Susan’s name to: Samaritan Healthcare and Hospice  5 Eves Drive Suite 300 Marlton, New Jersey 08053The people that choose to work in the hospice field are some of the most kind, caring, and, yes, loving people. Brenda Hall-Johnson and John Brooks made Mom’s transition a beautiful and peaceful memory for our family. The sweet connection and love that developed between these two and our Mom in such a short time will be held dear to us all. Thank you to Samaritan for sending Brenda and John, her nurse to care for her.