Susan G. (Gilbert) Kozub

Susan Gilbert Kozub of Southampton, MA passed away peacefully on May 12, 2025 surrounded by family and friends.   Sue was born on April 4, 1941 in Wareham, Massachusetts to Sayward Hall Gilbert and Esther Henshaw Gilbert.  She grew up in Portsmouth, NH with her sisters, Sayre (Cooke) & Sallie (McGuckin). For high school, she attended Milham Ford School for Girls in Oxford, England, and as a result was featured in a Life magazine article on U.S. students abroad. After returning to the States by passenger ship, Sue attended the University of New Hampshire.  While there she met Robert “Bob” Kozub, a navy officer stationed at the Portsmouth Navy Yard. Their blind date was a success and they were married for over 64 years. 

Sue was a working mom who raised, nurtured and mentored 3 children in Holyoke MA.  She was secretary to several elementary school principals in the Holyoke school system for many years.  She and Bob were also avid antique dealers who travelled throughout New England to auctions and shows for almost 40 years. 

In 1989, Sue and Bob found their dream home in Southampton MA; a 1786 historical farmhouse in a community that perfectly matched their passion for a Yankee lifestyle, antiques, and gardening.  During her years in Southampton, Sue became legendary for her community involvement, her admiration for the town and her “take charge” personality.  She joined the Southampton Women’s Club in 1990, taking on a leadership role soon after.  She loved hosting the Women’s Club potlucks and working on their many fundraisers. 

Sue was an active member of the Southampton Historical Society for over 30 years.  She was the curator of the Clark-Chapman House Museum from 1997 to 2014, and chair of both the historical commission and schoolhouse sub-committee at one time. She also was the co-founder of the Southampton Summer concert series and a volunteer at the Cancer Connection Thrift Shop in Northampton.

Ultimately, Sue’s real passion was for creating things. She was an incredibly talented artist who created hundreds of paintings, hooked rugs, seasonal displays, collages, and unique decorative folk art.  She found inspiration in nature and New England living, painting exquisite florals, landscapes, animals and more. Her skills were unsung, but immense. 

Sue is survived by her husband, Robert, her daughter Katherine; her daughter Karen and her husband John; and her son Robert, Jr. and his wife Kelly; as well as 8 beautiful grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.  She will be sadly missed and forever remembered by all of them.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of the Valley Church, 33 Adams St, Easthampton, MA on Wednesday, May 21 at 11:00am.   Calling hours for those wishing to participate in the funeral procession to church will be from 9:30-10:30am at the Mitchell Funeral Home 15 Park Street, Easthampton, MA.   

After the funeral, burial will take place at Center Cemetery, College Highway, Southampton, MA, and a celebration of life will follow at Southampton Country Club at 1:00 pm.  All are welcome to attend.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Southampton Historical Society & Clark-Chapman House Museum, 234 College Highway, Southampton, MA 01073, or to the Cancer Connection https://www.cancer-connection.org/donate.  

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