Susan Buckingham (Dolezal)

Susan Frances Buckingham (Dolezal) of Aurora, CO passed away on July 16, 2021 at the age of 77 while surrounded by family at the University of Colorado Hospital.

Susan was born on June 4, 1944 in Holyoke, CO to Charles and Izora Dolezal. Susan and her family eventually settled in Julesburg, CO where she graduated from Julesburg High School in 1962. Susan earned a Bachelor's Degree in Vocational Home Economics Education from Colorado State University in 1969 and a Master's Degree in Adult and Community Education from the University of Northern Colorado in 1976. Susan taught Home Economics for 30 years at Brighton High School where she also directed the Teen Parent Program and co-developed curriculum to help high risk parents acquire parenting skills. The curriculum was taught throughout the US and several European countries.

From 2003 to 2009, Susan worked in her favorite role as an adjunct professor at Johnson & Wales University in Denver. After the program ended, Sue worked for the Colorado Community College System, assisting in the development of state-wide curricula for Family and Consumer Science programs.

Susan loved gardening and was active in the Aurora Dig and Dream Garden Club for many years. She enjoyed gourmet cooking, entertaining, bird watching, attending Colorado Ballet Company performances and writing short anecdotal stories. She traveled for work and pleasure across the US and to Europe. She especially loved Paris and Prague as well as flying in a bush plane onto a glacier on Denali Peak in Alaska.

Susan is preceded in death by her parents, and her lifelong partner and husband Thomas Buckingham.

Susan is survived by her brother Craig Dolezal (Linda) of Julesburg, CO; her beloved nephews Chris Dolezal of Westminster, CO; and Carleton Dolezal (Natalie Swanson) of Littleton, CO. Also surviving are her great niece and nephews, Ella Dolezal, Jace Dolezal and Charlie Dolezal, step daughter Gayle Swanson of Avondale Estates, GA, step son Robert Buckingham and wife Diane of Indian Wells, CA as well as many special friends and relatives and her dearly loved German Shepherd Hanna.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday August 15, 2021, at 1:00pm at the V-Esprit Active Adult Living Community (5240 S Shalom Park Circle Aurora, CO 80015 in the Bavhi Bistro Room). A reception will follow in the Club Room. Inurnment services will be held at a later date at the Holyoke Memorial Park in Holyoke, CO.

Donations may be made to the Julesburg High School Alumni Scholarship Fund or to the Aurora Dig and Dream Garden Club for Community Outreach Projects.