Susan Irene McDowell

Susan Irene McDowell, age 83, died after a short illness in Aurora, Colorado on July 29, 2025. Susan was born in Philadelphia and graduated from All Catholic West Girl’s High School. She moved to Colorado in 1970 with her husband and her five children. Susan was a homemaker while the children grew up in Lakewood and Aurora. Three months after her youngest child graduated high school, Susan joined the Foreign Service of the State Department. She worked for the Foreign Service for 20 years before retiring to Colorado to be with her children and grandchildren.

Susan was an avid traveler, living in such places such as Nairobi, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Romania, Cypress, and a lot of the former Soviet Republic countries. She was also a gardener, loved reading and watching television, and going to church. Susan loved her family and had weekly family dinners until her death.

Susan is survived by her brother John (Lynne) McDowell (Wilmington, DE), sister-in-law Jean (Jim deceased) McDowell (Forked River, NJ), her daughter, Susan (Larry) Ivey of Aurora, and sons, Joseph Holland of South Carolina, Mark (Janice deceased) Holland of South Carolina, David Holland of Aurora, and Jeff (Sally) Holland of Parker. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Kevin (Marie) Holland, Auston (Heather) Ivey, Russell Holland, Taylor (Sean) Garriepy, Kyle Botkin, Mason Holland, Alexander Holland, Aidan Holland, Henley Holland, Lainey Holland, Riley Holland, and two great grandchildren, Liam Holland and Ava Holland. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents James and Dorothy, brother James, daughter-in-law Janice, and her grandson, Rory Ivey.

Funeral services will take place at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Denver, Colorado on Monday, August 4, 2025, at 10am. There will be a rosary at 930am for those interested. A wake will be held at 1230pm on the same day at Susan’s home. Please contact Susan's family for more information. Flowers can be sent to Susan’s home, or donations to NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) will be welcomed.