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Susan Mellin James, 78, was born to Henry and Viola Mellin in St. Louis on April 20, 1943 and died on Oct. 5 . She received her R.N. at Vassar Brothers Hospital in 1965 and was one of the first hospice nurses in Connecticut. She later received her B.A. from Connecticut College, where she won the Suzanne K. Langer award in philosophy, and her MSN from Yale University. She had her own practice in psychotherapy in Madison for more than 30 years.

She was an avid ballroom dancer and loved to read, paint, and solve the New York Times crossword puzzles. She also enjoyed walking and bike riding in Vero Beach, Florida. Most of all, she loved her family.

Susan is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Warner T. “Jim”; her three children, Jim (Anne), Heather, and Steve (Melissa); four grandchildren, Mary, Jimmy, Chris, and Peter; her sisters, Carolyn (Barry) Gillman and Nancy (Hugh) McCracken; her brother, Bobby (Pat) Mellin; her brother-in-law Bin (Jaz); her goddaughter, Susan Harkins; and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 11, in St. Mary’s Church of the Visitation, 54 Grove Street Clinton. Burial will follow at West Cemetery in Madison. For online condolences, visit www.swanfuneralhomemadison.com.