Westford, VT

Susan M. Houle, 76, of Westford died February 2, 2024 surrounded by her family at UVM Medical Center.

She was born in Burlington, VT on April 14, 1947 the daughter of Albert Arthur Miller and Nelda Mary Carroll. Susan graduated from Winooski High School and attended Champlain College. She worked for IBM and was the first female technician in Manufacturing Maintenance, and went on to be promoted to manager.

After retiring from IBM, she continued to pursue her love of competitive horseback riding on her Morgan horse "Lady Liea". She and Liea were Reserve Champions of the VT 3 day 100 mile ride and retired the Morgan Field Trophy many times over a decade of competing. After competing horses, Sue moved on to competing with her beloved dog "Spring" in dog agility trials, and won many classes over several years competing in agility classes in several eastern states. Spring was the 2022 Agility Trial Champion.

Susan is survived by her husband Philip Guare of Westford; her sons Stephen Houle (Nancy) of Swanton and Shane Houle of Westford; her stepdaughter Tonya Guare (Michael); her mother Nelda Miller; her grandchildren Kyle and Kelsi Houle of Highgate, Spencer Houle of Swanton, and Bryan Roy (Allison) of Georgia, VT; great grandchildren Easton and Finley Roy; her siblings Marilyn Combs of Punta Gorda, FL, Danny Miller of Jamaica, VT, Judy Forkel (Gus) of Lady Lake, FL, Maureen Miller (Ted Bourgault) of Hardwick, VT, Patrick Miller (Lynne) of Lady Lake, FL, Flossie Miller (Gary LeBlanc) of Shelburne, Michael Miller; and her sister-in-law Rhonda Miller. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, and her good friends Sue and Dan Boyer. Susan was predeceased by her first husband Alfred E. Houle; her father Albert Miller, her brother Bernard Miller, and her sister Nancy Miller.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, February 12, 2024 at 1:00pm at St Francis Xavier Church, Winooski. Burial will be in the spring at St. Luke Cemetery in Fairfax.