Sue Wilens

Woodstock-

On November 8th, Sue Wilens charted her final trip into the stars. She passed away peacefully at 2:30 p.m. at Health Alliance Hospital in Kingston, NY with her family and friends by her side. 

Sue began her journey on April 8th, 1938 in Evanston, Illinois as the daughter of the late Cecilia and Campbell Fickling before moving to Miami with her parents as a young girl. Always a seeker, she left Florida after a year at Florida State University and moved to New York City where she was hired as a stewardess. She eventually took a job as a secretary at the William Morris Agency where she met her first husband, Bernard ‘Bernie’ Wilens. In 1966, they purchased a home on Striebel road in Woodstock. That would prove to be a pivotal moment in Sue’s life, as Woodstock became the place where she found her true spirit and ultimately where she spent the rest of her life. 

Sue and Bernie moved to London that same year, and Sue’s first son Eric was born there in November of 1967. They returned to Woodstock and her second son Mark was born in Kingston, NY in July of 1969.

As she spent more time in Woodstock, she began to explore the spiritual, creative nature of the community and incorporate it into her own life. In 1974, she realized she was on a search for something deeper and more meaningful in herself. This would never be an easy realization, but it set her on a journey that led to her true calling as an astro-therapist and spiritual practitioner. Sue followed the path of peace, love, and life, always emphasizing the importance of “living your truth.” In the winter of 1974, she moved into a house on Library Lane with her two young children Mark and Eric, working whatever job she could. Sue later moved to Shokan and began her lifelong study of astrology with her mentor, Mary Orser. There was sometimes a struggle to make ends meet, but she was committed to staying on the trajectory of her spiritual journey despite hardship. Sue was a student of many religions and spiritual paths: Tarot, I Ching, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, and Hinduism. She traveled to India in her search for spiritual meaning. It was during this period of her life that she delved into literary readings at coffee shops and embraced the spiritual world and artsy community that a different side of Woodstock offered. Here she found her solace among people who lifted her up and supported her work and life, setting her on the path of poetry that she would continue to write and use as a creative outlet for the next 50 years. Her poetry was one of her great loves. As she aged over the years her poems and the book that would emerge from them became her greatest passion projects. In her final months, she worked tirelessly to edit and organize the published record of all her work over the years, a testament to her gift. There will be a celebration of the release of her life’s work of poetry Evolving in April 2025.

Sue’s family, friends, and Woodstock community were the cornerstones of her life. She never chose the easy route, always the meaningful one. Sue moved through life with grace, thoughtfulness, and gratitude. She was generous, kind, and compassionate beyond belief. She suffered many hardships, including the loss of her eldest son Eric Wilens to cancer in 2018. Eric was born on November 12th, 1967, and, as the universe always wields destiny, Sue will be buried next to him on November 12th, 2024. It is exactly what she would have wanted. She always parted with one message: “Peace and love, spread the word.”

She is survived by her son Mark Wilens, his wife Anna Millenson, her grandchildren Thea Millenson-Wilens and Luc Millenson-Wilens, her daughter-in-law Robin Wilens, and her grandson Landon Wilens. She is predeceased by her son Eric Wilens. 

In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations may be made in the name of Sue Wilens to fund an Annual Onteora High School Student Poet Scholarship: https://gofund.me/6f169807

Sue's funeral procession will form on Tuesday at 12 noon at the E. B. Gormley Funeral Home 87 Main St. Phoenicia, thence to the Woodstock Cemetery for a  1pm graveside service.  The family extends a warm invitation to gather afterwards for sharing some additional special memories at Vivienne and Stuart's home at 146 Witchtree Rd, Woodstock NY after the graveside service from 2-4PM. Visitation will be  on Monday evening from 5pm to 7pm at the E. B. Gormley Funeral Home,  You may share a special memory, photo, or condolence on Sue's Tribute Wall at www.gormleyfuneralhome.com

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