Suzanne L. Linehan, age 68, of Hockessin, Delaware, passed away peacefully on June 20, 2026, surrounded lovingly by her family.

Suzanne was born in National City, California, where she had fond childhood memories of riding horses on her father's farm. After a short time in Quincy, Massachusetts, her family moved to Brookside in Newark, Delaware. As a teenager growing up in Harmony Hills, she loved going to drive-in movies, playing pool, and dancing at the Triple Nickel. She graduated from Newark High School, Class of 1975, where she was a member of the diving team and participated in several art competitions. Suzanne was also a member of the Civil Air Patrol, where she received a sharpshooter certification from the NRA. After high school, she enlisted in the Air National Guard.

Suzanne loved her coffee and her daily crossword puzzles. She enjoyed playing card games with anyone who was willing, was an avid bowler in several leagues throughout the Wilmington and Pike Creek area, loved her monthly Bunco nights, and learned to country line dance to all her favorite country tunes. No matter how large or small her yard was, she could turn any plot of earth into a magical oasis teeming with birds, especially her beloved bluebirds, and various wildlife. She cherished watching them with her husband and best friend, Scott, her beloved fur baby, Khaleesi, or while relaxing in her hot tub.

After her brief military service in the 1970s, Suzanne trained as an optometrist assistant. She worked at W. L. Gore in the 1980s, MBNA in the 1990s, and later retired as a fraud investigator for Bank of America in 2014.

Above all else, Suzanne treasured time with her family. She loved family trips to Wildwood, New Jersey; camping during Delaware State Fair week; annual marathon pie- and cookie-making sessions with her grandchildren; and traveling with her husband, Scott, to Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Williamsburg. In more recent years, Suzanne's birdwatching turned into "dragon watching" as she became an avid fan of Maleficent and Game of Thrones. She also faithfully cheered on her favorite home teams, regularly watching the Flyers, Phillies, and Eagles. As a lifelong science fiction fan, she was thrilled to pass down her love of Star Trek, horror movies, and especially cheesy shark movies to her daughters who enjoyed watching them with her.

Suzanne also enjoyed family game nights, annual trips to Milburn Orchards, and Christmas shopping at the mall, with a must-do stop at Ronny's Garden World to top off the extensive holiday decorations that could rival any public display. She had an enduring love for her daughters and grandbabies, was a devoted wife to her husband, Scott, of 23 years, and her compassion for animals was evident through the many beloved pets her family adopted over the years.

Suzanne was preceded in death by her previous spouse, Joseph W. Byrd; her mother, Sheila C. Burg; her father, John Doughty; her stepfather, Richard Burg; her sister, Trisha Smith (Scott and Kerry); her brother-in-law, Danny Hitchens (husband of Sheila L. Hitchens); and her beloved fur babies, Riley and Pharaoh.

Suzanne is survived by her constant companion and loving husband, Scott Linehan; her daughters, Laura Timney (Jeremy) and Sarah Olson (Shane); her beloved granddaughters, Daisy Timney, Savannah Timney, and Austin Olson; her siblings, Tonya Skufca, Ronald Skufca, Sheila Hitchens, August Ferrara, and Shawn Alire (Steve); as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Services and a celebration of Suzanne's life will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Humane Animal Partners of Delaware.