Susan Harvey Valentine

Susan Harvey Valentine, born July 13, 1942, passed into the arms of her heavenly father on Sunday March 3, 2025.

Susan was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Harold Cockburn Harvey and Sally Neilson Rice Harvey Voohrees; paternal grandparents, Frank Rossiter Valentine Sr. and Grace Ellis Valentine; her parents, Frank Rossiter Valentine Jr. and Edith Neilson Cockburn Harvey Valentine; and her brother James Rossiter Valentine. 

She is survived by her daughters, Shannon Kathleen McGinnis (Loyd Copeland) and Tara Valentine Shirk (Richard Shirk); grandson, James Rossiter Shirk and step granddaughter Tifani Shirk (and 2 great grandchildren Canaan and Ivy) and her life partner of 30 years, Todd Rittenhouse (and their 3 rescued Shelties: Bandit, Rowdy, and Sweet Pea); as well as several cousins, god children and friends around the world. 

The past 5 generations of Susan’s family have been patrons of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral of Trenton, NJ. 

Susan’s love of volunteering began in her 20s when she became a water safety instructor with the American Red Cross. She became involved in teaching handicapped and blind children the joys of swimming. She served as secretary assistant for Trenton Water Safety and Disaster Services. 

She loved to support women and children for the past 35 years as a member of the Zonta Club of Trenton/Mercer. After moving to TN in 2014, she continued to support women and children through Lydia’s Circle of the Christian Church of Colonial Heights.

Susan completed her Master’s degree in Management Change Process from Rider University and BA in US History with minors in Biology and Political Science from Rider College. Attended Carnegie Institute of Technology and Sophie Newcomb of Tulane as the only female on the ROTC Rifle Team. 

She worked for Carter Wallace as Assistant to the Director of Proprietary Drug Research where she learned to read doctors notes, medical journals, and daily updates while maintaining a library of information for his 3 research assistants.

Susan became a successful district manager for Avon Products and won top 5% in the US five times. She was the first district Sales manager to get a computer in her home so that she could help create programs for district managers throughout the US. 

Due to her healthcare and managerial experience supporting Quality Care for the state of NJ, she served on the board of directors for the Visiting Nurse Association of Mercer County as well as the board of directors for Meals on Wheels of Mercer County and the board of directors for Heart of Hearts, a women’s health organization.

Susan founded and ran Sunny Acres, the first female owned Certified Organic farm in New Jersey (1990 to 2002). Owned with her life partner, the Flower and Country Store, a successful flower shop in Titusville (1997 to 2013). 

As a lifelong learner, Susan continued to enroll in online courses at Hillsdale College (Religion, Philosophy, and Music) as well as a perpetual love of gardening and crafts such as knitting, needle point, embroidery and cross stitch projects. 

A graveside service will be held at Harbourton Cemetery, 1516 Harbourton Rocktown Rd, Lambertville, New Jersey at 2pm on Saturday, March 15, 2025.  A Celebration of Life will follow at the Pennington Fire House, 120 Broemel Place, Pennington, New Jersey.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Tennessee on Saturday March 29, 2025 from 1-4 pm at 364 Emory Church Rd, Kingsport, Tennessee.

In lieu of flowers please consider donations to your choice below:

Meals on Wheels of Mercer County: http://www.mealsonwheelsmercer.org/

Zonta of NJ: https://zontatrenton.org/ 

Lydia’s Circle: https://www.lydiacircleministries.org/

Hillsdale College: https://www.hillsdale.edu/

Carter-Trent Funeral Home in Kingsport is serving the Valentine family.