Susan Wood Osborne

Susan Wood Osborne of Lancaster died on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, just shy of her 89th birthday. She was born to Ronald and Enid Wood in Nether Whitacre, Warwickshire, England, in 1936. Her brother Arthur Richard Wood predeceased her. She is survived by her husband John B. Osborne, Jr., daughter Charlotte Osborne Moscardelli, son-in-law Christopher Paul Moscardelli, and step-grandchildren Nicholas and Gabriella Moscardelli of Sea Girt, NJ. Named for the vibrant black-eyed Susan flower, she possessed deep, soulful brown eyes that reflected a life lived with both grace and fortitude. Susan's early years were formative. During WWII, she endured numerous German air raids and on one occasion had to be dug out of a blizzard by Italian POWs when she was near death with pneumonia. This early adversity forged in her an unwavering spirit, the very embodiment of the British "stiff upper lip," a survivor who embraced life with quiet strength. After graduating from Saint Mary & Saint Anne, Abbots Bromley, and Rachel McMillan College, now part of the University of London, she embarked on ambitious travels across Europe - from bicycle rides through the French countryside with friends to exploring the picturesque landscapes of Italy and the slopes of the Swiss Alps. Susan began her career as a primary school teacher in London, but her adventurous heart soon took her to the American International School in Switzerland, where she taught elementary school. Upon returning to London, fate intervened and she met her future husband. Their romance blossomed during a trip to the Scottish Highlands, culminating in her greatest adventure: marrying and moving to the United States in 1969. In America, Susan continued her passion for education, teaching at the Gill School in New Jersey before moving to Lancaster where she was a beloved third-grade teacher at Lancaster Country Day School for twenty-five years. While she left England it never really left her, nor did her Queen’s English accent which was complimented regularly and added to her charm. Susan was a gifted artist, capturing the beauty of her travels in delightful watercolors, particularly those inspired by the landscapes of Provence. Her keen visual sense also manifested in her love of gardening, transforming her Lancaster backyard into a tranquil English oasis. Ever the educator, she authored a textbook on teaching third-grade mathematics. While she did cherish her British ancestry, she eventually became an American citizen at the ripe old age of 80. Susan embraced adventure throughout her life, spending summers exploring England, the sun-drenched fields of southern France, the cultural delights of the Shaw Festival in Niagara on the Lake, and the vibrant energy of New York City while visiting her daughter. Her spirit of exploration, dedication to education, her deep appreciation for family and friends, and infectious laugh will be profoundly missed by all who knew her. A Memorial Service will be held at The Groffs Family Funeral Home, 528 W. Orange St., Lancaster, PA 17603 on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Friends are invited to greet the family at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The interment will be private.