Mary Sue Groover Hansen

Sue Groover Hansen, 74, of Centreville, MD, formerly of Malvern, PA, passed away peacefully on April 21, 2023, after a long illness. Sue is survived by her husband of 50 years, Stuart Hansen, and their children Elizabeth (Dave) Gross of Annapolis, MD, Kristen (Brian) Corona of Severna Park, MD, and Stuart, Jr., “Duke,” (fiancée Alison Priebe) of Philadelphia. Sue was blessed with five grandchildren; Miller, James, Christian, Grace, and Alida. Sue is preceded in death by her parents, James Walter Groover and Anne Brodnax Massengale, and her brother, James Walter, Jr.

Sue was born in Atlanta, and grew up on her father’s lumber yard near Acworth, GA. She graduated from Queens College with a bachelor’s degree in Art—training that she would carry with her through her life as an artist. She was a member of the Phi Mu Sorority, where she made many lifelong friends. Sue and Stuart met on Nantucket Island at age 20, and quickly fell in love. They were married in 1972, and eventually settled in Malvern, where they raised their three children.

Sue was devoted to her family, providing them with warmth, encouragement, and unconditional love. She and Stuart built a life filled with music, laughter, beauty, and art. They taught their children to celebrate at every opportunity. Anyone who Sue met never stayed a stranger for long. She could find a personal connection or common ground with anyone fortunate enough to encounter her. Her home was always open with room for more at her table, which led to unforgettable dinner parties, musical performances, slumber parties, and too many gatherings to count over the years.

Sue and Stuart loved to be on the water. They owned a sailboat long before the purchase of their first home. Together they sailed the Chesapeake Bay and the entire northeastern seaboard with their young children onboard their sailboat, Nobadeer. They were active members of both the Gibson Island Yacht Squadron and the Corinthian Yacht Club in Philadelphia. In 2009, they fulfilled a lifelong dream by retiring to live by the Corsica River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

A wildly talented artist and true creative, Sue approached every project and challenge with originality, a fresh perspective and the indefatigable desire to exceed even her own high expectations. Sue was a dedicated volunteer with the Agnes Irwin and Haverford Schools, the Church of the Redeemer, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, as well as the Philadelphia Zoo. She also worked as an artist on a wide range of projects, from tile murals and corporate design to creating the original art for the iconic Merion Golf Club logo.

Sue was accomplished in floral design and exhibited in numerous flower shows, repeatedly receiving high accolades, including for several of her entries in the Philadelphia Flower Show over the years. One of her proudest accomplishments was becoming a national design judge for The Garden Club of America. She was a member of the Gardeners and Queen Anne’s County Garden Clubs. She also was serving as president of the Queen Anne’s County Garden Club when she fell ill in 2022. Sue’s grandchildren were the lights of her life, and she loved planning elaborate visits for each of them at “Camp Groovy” (as they called her) on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in the summertime.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr, PA on May 8th at 1pm. Contributions in Sue’s memory may be made to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared on this website for the Hansen family.