Susan Bortis Deck, 75, of Dover, New Hampshire, died Saturday, January 3, 2026, from bone cancer while at home with family.

Born on September 12, 1950, to Frederick Bortis and Harriet (Page) Bortis, Susan was raised in Park Ridge, New Jersey. In high school, Susan was in the color guard, edited the school newspaper (The Owl), and played the part of Graziella in West Side Story. She graduated in 1968. Susan attended Penn State University and received her bachelor of arts degree in social welfare in 1972.

After graduation, Susan moved to Philadelphia for her first job as a mental health caseworker. She lived in Ohio during her first marriage, working as a family daycare caseworker, and then moved to New Hampshire with her young son to be close to her parents. She participated in charity runs and was a member of Brookside Congregational Church in Manchester. Susan worked for a number of years as an employment support counselor with New Hampshire Employment Security and New Hampshire Job Training Council.

One of Susan’s best-loved spots was her parents’ camphouse on Pawtuckaway Lake in Nottingham, New Hampshire. She would enjoy swimming, sunbathing, cookouts, and quality time with her siblings, parents, and other family members.

Throughout her life, Susan cherished her family. She would have weekly dinners and get-togethers with her son and his wife and in-laws. She loved going on walks, especially on the Dover Community Trail and at the beach; watching and reading spine-tingling mysteries and thrillers; and taking trips, whether to Europe, the Caribbean, or within New England to enjoy its natural beauty.

Susan is survived by her son Jeff Deck and his wife Jane Connolly; and her brother William F. Bortis and his wife E. Kristen Frederick and their family.

She is predeceased by her sister, Deborah B. Finn; her parents; and her two ex-husbands, Ralph J. Deck and Thomas Mathes.

Visitation hours for Susan will be held on Saturday, January 10, from 3 to 5 pm, with a brief service at 5, at Tasker Funeral Home, 621 Central Ave, Dover, New Hampshire. Burial will take place in the spring.

Her family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Hospice Help Foundation, 400 Little Harbor Rd #1105, Portsmouth, NH 03801 or at hhelpfoundation.org.