Obituary of Susan C. (Slaughter) Darke

Susan C. (Slaughter) Darke PEABODY – Susan C. (Slaughter) Darke, 71, beloved wife of the late Roger Darke, died peacefully at her home early Sunday November 8, 2015, while in the comforting presence of her loving family. Born in Louisville, KY, she was the daughter of the late Doc and Helen (Buchart) Slaughter. She grew up there, and eventually earned a degree as a Licensed Practical Nurse, LPN from St. Joseph’s Hospital. In 1969 she moved to Peabody and was employed at Salem Hospital for about 10 years before starting her own company. She owned and operated The Adoption Connection, a search and support group for adoptees and birth parents. Susan worked with a passion that stemmed from having the experience of being both a birth parent and an adoptee. She was responsible for over 8,000 reunions including her own reunion with her son whom she gave up and a brother and sister whom she was separated from. Susan was a strong advocate of adoptees rights and spent years lobbying in support of open adoption and open records. She was a member of the North Shore Small Business Association and the Greater Peabody Chamber of Commerce. She enjoyed summering at her cottage on Schoodic Lake in Maine, and wintering in Barefoot Bay, FL. The most important thing in her life was her family and friends, and her goal was to be surrounded by the people she loved; a goal she managed to accomplish to the very end. She is survived by her longtime loving and supportive partner Phil McKusick; her daughters Deb Grayson & her husband Jeff of Peabody, Denise Johnson & her husband Michael of Peabody, Dody Hudson of Groton, and Dyan Lambert & her husband Derek of Epping, NH; a son Tom Kotts & his wife Judy of Flint, MI; 17 grandchildren; a brother Gene Henchey & his wife Barbara of Louisville, KY; a sister Sandy McAdams & her husband Andy of Loganville, GA; several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, many nieces and nephews, and a large number of close friends. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather on Thursday November 12, 2015 at 10 AM from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 AM in St. John the Baptist Church, Peabody. A visitation will be held on Wednesday from 4 – 8 P.M. Cremation will take place after the Mass. Memorial donations may be made to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923.