Rev. Susan Strobhar Dulany

Click Here to Download a free funeral planning guide.

Celebrating the life of
Rev. Susan Strobhar DulanyMay 13, 1943 - February 20, 2011

Susan Strobhar Dulany

Perhaps her two greatest gifts were her love of life and her enduring spirit. It was these qualities which would successfully shepherd her from a wife and mother to a multi-causal champion. She was an avid conservationist, social advocate, spiritual leader, inspired gardener, and dedicated humanitarian. Though small in stature, she was quite a formidable force indeed.

Susan Strobhar Dulany, 67, passed away peacefully at her home Sunday evening, in the arms of her family. Susan was born in Savannah in 1943, the daughter of Katherine and Douglass Strobhar. She married Reed, her life-long love, in 1960, and had her three children by the time she was 27 years old. During these early years, she was a leader and active member of many civic and charitable organizations, including The Junior League of Savannah, The Trustees Garden Club, Savannah Hospice and Women of Christ Church Episcopal. She was involved in the formation of Christ Church's Emmaus house and served as Chairman of the Women of Christ Church Tour of Homes.

While her greatest love and joy came from her family, it was when her children began leaving the nest that Susan began to spread her wings. Having attended Pape School The Savannah Country Day School, Ashley Hall in Charleston and Armstrong State College, she began focusing on a nursing career, but later felt a stronger calling to the Church. She pursued this new path with her typical, unrelenting passion and on the eighth of April, 1989, became one of the first women to be ordained as a Deacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia. Her life in the ministry began in Savannah with Christ Episcopal Church but it would not be long before her ministry would reach areas well beyond her hometown.

Through the Church, Susan developed a relationship with a variety of organizations that would send her around the world. The one about which she was most passionate was The Global Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders on Human Survival. As a representative of the Episcopal Church of Georgia, she traveled to conferences in Moscow, Rio de Janeiro, Kyoto, Berlin, Zurich, and Israel. She met and conferred with many notables such as Mikhail & Raisa Gorbachev, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, Prime Minister Rabin, Yasser Arafat, Al Gore, John Denver and Carl Sagan.

The focus of these conferences was a vision as grand in scope as it was in ambition: to help us survive on this earth by encouraging communication across many different platforms spiritual, parliamentary, business/industry, and science. Susan spent many years working toward the Forum's vision of world unity and global peace.

Susan was steadfastly committed to preserving the beauty of the areas in which she lived as well. Her beloved Tybee Island was certainly in focus as Susan was instrumental in passing zoning laws which would ensure the preservation of the architectural integrity of Tybee as well as create a buffer to protect the natural sand dunes. She continued to fight as long as she was able for the preservation of the low country and historic Savannah.

It was because of her tireless and passionate commitment to the service of others that she was loved by so many. She was genuinely interested in selflessly helping her fellow man in any way she could. Her openness, honesty and infectious smile drew people to her and fostered friendships wherever she went. But above all, she always carried with her a deep and spiritual relationship with God.

Susan loved nothing if not a challenge – if only she could have had more time.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur Douglass Strobhar and Katherine Long Strobhar. She is survived by her adoring husband, Franklin Reed Dulany, Jr.; her daughters, Susan Dulany Atkinson and Catherine Dulany DiBenedetto; her son, Franklin Reed Dulany, III; and eleven grandchildren, John Atkinson, William Atkinson, Leslie Atkinson, Catherine Atkinson, Tommy Adams, Mary Adams, Robert DiBenedetto, Anna DiBenedetto, David DiBenedetto, Mary McElveen Dulany, and Franklin Reed Dulany, IV.

The family would like to express their deepest appreciation to Terri Skinner, Linda Scott, and Cheryl Tuszkiewicz for their loving care and devotion to Susan over these past few years. The family would also like to say a special thank you to the kind staff of the THA group.

Funeral Service: 3 pm, Thursday, February 24, 2011 at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church.

Burial: Private, Family Members Only.

Reception: At home following the service.

Remembrances:
The Episcopal Relief & Development, P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116, The Nature Conservancy, 1330 West Peachtree Street, Suite 410, Atlanta, GA 30309,
The Coastal Conservation Association of Georgia, 42 Montgomery Crossroad, Savannah GA 31406, Coastal Conservation League of South Carolina, 328 East Bay Street, Post Office Box 1765, Charleston, SC 29402.

Please sign our online guestbook at www.foxandweeks.com

Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel

SHARE YOUR CONDOLENCES

Submissions protected by Kanshi.

GUEST BOOK

So sorry to read of your loss. I was out of town and missed the service. I remember she was the first person in our 'gang' to get married, 50 years ago.

- Tony Field, Savannah, GA

Sending sincere sympathy to the family of Susan Dulany. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

- Frida Moore Raley, Thunderbolt, GA

Please accept my most heartfelt condolences... I have such fond memories of your mother's infectious smile and positive energy. Thoughts with each of you...

- LaTrelle Scherffius, Bozeman, MT

Susan epitomized sweetness and caring for everyone she met, and she touched many more than most. Her joyous smile lit up a room and all the hearts therein. Even those who knew her only briefly--and I was one--were compelled to hug her in the hope that some of that goodness would rub off. She will be sorely missed.

- J. R. Roseberry, Tybee Island, GA

to the family of Susan Dulany; I was sorry to read about her pssing in the paper. My most heart felt sympathy and condolences go out to you and your family in your loss. Remember that she will live on in your hearts and her family.. Susan and I played together as children. However as time went on, we lost contact with each other until now. Yours William M Davidson IV Bill

- William M Davisdson IV BILL, Statesboro, GA

Sending deepest sympathy and condolences, Marion Cooper

- Marion Cooper, Savh, GA

Savannah is going to miss such a genuine southern and worldly lady in Susan. Her appreciation for nature, things that are beautiful in this world, and wholesome activities will live on through her family.

- Robert DiBenedetto, Greenwood, SC