Susan Elizabeth Onderdonk

Susan Elizabeth Onderdonk, passed away on Saturday, January 16, 2021 at Mary Washington Hospital from complications of diabetes.

Ms. Onderdonk graduated from James Monroe High School in 1974. She majored in music at James Madison University, where she studied organ, voice, and choral conducting, graduating magna cum laude in 1978. She was in the Honors Program, Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity and inducted into an education honorary, Pi Kappa Lamda. Ms. Onderdonk completed a M.A. in music at the University of Iowa and was a recipient of the Rahn Memorial prize. She continued her studies in organ, voice, and choral conducting.

As an organist and choir director, she served Baptist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and United Methodist churches in the Midwest and along the East coast. Her professional singing career included work as an alto soloist and recitalist in America and Europe. She was a member of Bach Consort, Choral Arts Society, Cathedral Choral Society, St. John’s Lafayette Square Choir, American Repertory Singers, and Chamber Chorale of Fredericksburg.

She is survived by her mother, Shirley Onderdon­k; brother David C. Onderdonk (Patricia) of Myrtle Beach, SC; a sister, Kathryn L. Perlewitz (David) of Carrollton, VA; two nephews, Clay Onderdonk and Stephen Kerr (Danielle); and one niece, Leah Onderdonk. She was preceded in death by her father, G. Carlton Onderdonk.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 22 at Fredericksburg Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. George’s Episcopal Church music ministries.