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Susan S Pierce, 86, a former Social Secretary and Consultant, died on Saturday at Bellingham, a retirement community in West Chester. She was the wife of the late William G. Pierce and the late Reeves Bunting. A life long resident of the Main Line, Mrs. Pierce graduated from the Baldwin School in 1938. She summered in Sedgwick, Maine for the last 20 years. Mrs. Pierce launched her career as a social secretary directing the Friday night dance class, Young Debonair at the Merion Cricket Club. Her daughters remember all too well the feel of their mother’s firm but discreet hand as she led them across the dance floor to an equally embarrassed and uncomfortable young man to learn the box step. After several years as an assistant to Mrs. Edward J. Macmillan, in 1963 Mrs. Pierce started her own business coordinating and planning debuts, weddings and charitable events in Philadelphia, New York and throughout New England. She acted as Executive Chairmen of the Philadelphia Charity Ball for many years, stepping down in 1999 at the age of 79. Known for her talent to ensure that each mother and father of the bride “bask in the afterglow of a perfect day”, Mrs. Pierce orchestrated many weddings throughout her long career and will be remembered for her grace, her dignity and her commitment to honor the traditions of Philadelphia society. During WWII she worked for the Red Cross and continued as a life long volunteer, giving her time to many organizations including, Bryn Mawr Hospital, the Devon Horse Show, Surrey Services, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, the Blue Hill Hospital and St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church in Blue Hill, Maine. She is survived by her children, Susan H. Larson of Steamboat Springs, CO, Reeves Bunting, III of Houston, TX, Sally B. Kaufmann of Amherst, MA, Sandra B. Arnold of Berwyn, PA and Pearce Bunting of New York City along with 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. In celebration of her life, a service will be held on Sat. March 31 at 1pm in the Chapel of St. David’s Episcopal Church, 763 S. Valley Forge Road, Wayne, PA. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to either St. Francis by the Sea, P.O. Box 76, Blue Hill, Me 04614 or The Board of Women Visitors of the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, HUP, 399 S. 34th St., 1122 Penn Tower, Phila., Pa 19104l

Tributes

Susan Bunting Pierce

October 25, 1920 - March 24, 2007