Susan Ruth (Havenstein) Lowe

Join us to celebrate the life of Susan Ruth (Susie) Havenstein Lowe, of Moncure, NC. Susie passed away on January 24th following a long battle with ovarian cancer.

She was a beloved wife, (widow) and mother of two young men, Benjamin Gerald, and Bryce Douglas.

Susie was born in Madison, WI, on June 20, 1967, to Gerald and Joyce Havenstein. Three months later she moved with her family to Redmond, Washington, where she spent her childhood. Susie attended the Redmond public schools and the University of Washington in Seattle, where she graduated in 1987 with a BA in English Literature.

Susie spent the next five years as a barista in one of Seattle’s original coffee shops, The Last Exit. Additionally, she worked security at the Moore Theater for concerts. She had memorable stories of interactions with famous local band artists including members of Nirvana and Sound Garden. In 1992, she moved to North Carolina to be closer to her parents and brother.

In 1997 she met Kenneth Douglas (Doug) Lowe, and they had their first date at a local music festival. Eventually they married and had two children, Benjamin Gerald and Bryce Douglas Lowe. Tragically, Doug passed away from a vehicle accident in 2014.

Susie worked a variety of jobs during her early years in NC. In 2009, she served as a PTA representative who volunteered with one of the Chatham County PTA Thrift Shops. Those shops help fund the Chatham County School System’s PTA programs. She eventually took a position there, and worked her way up to co-manage the Cole Park Store in Chapel Hill. She left that position in June 2022 following her cancer diagnosis.

Susie had a passion for reading as a child and continued to be a voracious reader throughout her life. Growing up, she also enjoyed playing music. She was a member of the handbell choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Redmond.  That choir had five octaves of handbells, and they toured widely. Several times they traveled to play in churches and at handbell festivals as far south as San Diego, CA, and as far east as Minneapolis, MN. Susie was also passionate about listening to music. She enjoyed 70s, 80s, pop music, rock, local bands, and the indy scene. She also loved the techno where she could express herself through dancing. She also enjoyed participating in sports, including soccer, basketball, and rowing. She loved being a part of the UW’s Junior Varsity Crew team, even though she was several years younger than most of the other team members.

Gardening, cooking, and making great dishes with fresh local ingredients was another enjoyment for her.

Susie is survived by her two sons, Ben and Bryce; her parents, Gerald and Joyce Havenstein of Raleigh, NC; her brother Greg Havenstein and his daughter Lauren of Cary, NC; and by numerous relatives on both sides of the family. All will miss her warm loving and thoughtful presence.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2023.  Visitation is at 11:00 a.m. with service at 12 noon.

Donaldson Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to serve the Lowe family.