Susan Northrop Sperry passed away on August 19, 2026, at the young age of 83. She was born in Rutland, Vt., on November 22, 1942, to Mary Mears and John Northrop. She grew up in Proctor with her many sisters and brothers and married Mark Sperry in 1963. Together they raised four children in Middlebury before moving to South Burlington.
Susan was a lifelong Vermonter and proud University of Vermont graduate. She had a passion for history, antiques and vintage finds. For decades she ran an antique business called Evening Shadows. She loved the thrill of the chase and could be spotted on any weekend combing yard sales and auctions for potential treasures. The more mysterious the find, the better! She was a dogged researcher and would not stop until she could identify the obscure object in question.
Often described by her children as a “force of nature,” Susan was never without strong perfume and a wicked sense of humor. She loved gardening, boating on Lake Champlain with her husband, playing mah-jongg with friends, lunching with her sisters and brothers at Tozier’s, gazing at the full moon, singing Roy Orbison songs, and watching her grandchildren in music concerts, dance competitions and hockey games.
Susan is survived by Mark, her husband of 63 years; daughter Abigail Sperry; son Dwight Sperry and his wife, Marieke; daughter Julia Sperry and her husband, Jim Sandberg; and son Tyler Sperry and his wife, Karen. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Rose Sperry, Gabriela Torrens-Sperry, Violet Sperry, Oliver Sperry and Emma Sperry; as well as her five siblings, John Northrop, Rebecca Blicharz, Rachel Keyser, Jim Northrop and Naomi Northrop, and their spouses and children. Susan was predeceased by her sister Ellen Northrop and her granddaughters Amelia Sperry and Sasha Torrens-Sperry. She forever held Ellen, Amelia and Sasha in her heart.
There will be no service at this time. To honor Susan’s memory, donations can be made to the Golisano Children’s Hospital and the Addiction Treatment Center at the UVM Medical Center.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To share memories, photos and condolences with the family, please visit readyfuneral.com.