Suellen Austin Heinrich, 77, of Guilford, CT, passed away on August 18th.
Suellen was born on April 16th, 1947, to Ellen Megivern Austin and Alvin E. Austin in Grand Forks, ND. After Suellen graduated from St. James High School in 1965, she went on to study Social Work at the University of North Dakota, earning a Bachelor’s degree in 1969. While she was in college, Suellen met J. Jeffrey Heinrich in Colchester, VT. They married in 1970 and moved to CT in 1973. Suellen started her career at the Guilford Free Library in 1974 as a library assistant in the children’s department. In 1977, Suellen took a leave of absence from the library when she and Jeff had their child, John Joseph Heinrich. She served as a Registrar of Voters for the Town of Guilford from 1988-1995. Suellen returned to work as a substitute librarian in Guilford Public Schools from 1990-1992, then rejoined the Guilford Free Library as the children’s librarian in 1992. She obtained a master’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University in 2000. During her 20+ years at the library, Suellen reached thousands of kids through her infamous story time reads. She is remembered by those generations, and she remembered every one of them. In 2014, Suellen retired to spend her time with friends and family. Suellen was predeceased by her husband Jeff Heinrich, as well as her parents, brother-in-law Morgan Lacy, and niece Jocelyn Williams Matcha. She is survived by her son John Heinrich and daughter-in-law Anna Luciano of Somerville, MA; her sister Sheila Austin Lacy of Fessenden, ND; and her in-laws Pamela and Bruce MacPherson of South Burlington, VT; Mark and Starleen Heinrich of Kingwood, TX; William Heinrich of Colchester, VT; Thomas and Theresa Heinrich of Southern Pines, NC; and Mary Alice and Nicholas Aloi of Burlington, VT. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass will be held at St. George Catholic Church in Guilford on Saturday, September 7 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Guilford Free Library. Arrangements are with the Hawley Lincoln Memorial, Guilford.