A love of theatre. A passion for history. A mastery of writing. A generous, unassuming soul. These were the ties that bound Susan Flemming to so many for so long. The journalist, playwright, director and actor died on April 6 after a brief illness, surrounded by her sisters Linda and Jane, and other close family members. She was 71.

After Flemming and her partner John Powell bought a small farm in Sarsfield in the early 1980s, she became involved in many aspects of community life, including the Navan Fair. In their early days on the farm, the couple raised and sold various farm animals – from beef cattle to pheasants. They moved into Queenswood Villa in 2021. John died in February 2023.

Born in Orillia, Susan studied journalism at Brock and Carleton universities and worked for the federal government, followed by a decade as editor of The Communiqué, a publication of Cumberland Township. She became involved with the local theatre community, which began the most enduring and fulfilling chapter of her life.

If there is truth to the premise that we should strive to find “our tribe”, Susan found hers. She coupled her writing skill and love of history and research with other like-minded people such as Marni Hunt-Stephens, who says they both knew they had found a “kindred spirit”. Flemming helped strengthen the theatre community by being one of the founding members of Vintage Stock Theatre (VST), which grew from the rebranding of The Friends of the Cumberland Museum.

Following Susan’s death, VST posted: “Not only did she write, she also directed, taught, and produced many shows. Her renowned attention to historical accuracy and extensive research is what provided VST with the highest standards in educating the public about our shared heritage and historical theatre. She instilled the same values and professionalism in many of us she taught along the way.”

One of the most enduring collaborations was with her Sarsfield neighbour Kathi Langston, who went on to spend 20 years as artistic director of Orleans Young Players (now Ottawa School of Theatre). It was at the theatre school that Flemming began teaching and writing plays for its recreational adult theatre class. As one regular participant, Tina Chan, put it, “She pushed me to new heights, instilling in me a sense of confidence I never knew I had.”

Other collaborations between Flemming and Langston included All the Way to Russia With Love, which won The People’s Choice Award at the 2002 Ottawa Fringe Festival, and for many years producing Historical Tours of Beechwood Cemetery.

“Susan and I were a team. She wrote, I directed,” says Langston.

Flemming brought history to life through her plays, murder mysteries and storytelling. She was shy, but if required she would overcome her reluctance to act and get into costume, doing a superb job every time.

One of her most successful plays tells the story of the 1890 murder of two young Cumberland Village sisters. The McGonigle Murders was originally performed in 1995 and remounted as Outrage: The McGonigle Murders at the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum in 2007 and 2017 as part of VST’s ‘Shades of the Evening” series.

Over two weekends in September, VST will present the play again at the L’Orignal jail, the site of the June 1891 hanging of Narcisse Larocque, the man convicted of the girls’ murder.

In a letter to a friend written three weeks before her death, Flemming spoke of her devastation when John died, “I was blessed to have my family and friends who were, and continue to be, a lifeline for me.”

At her request, there will be no funeral, but her family and friends will gather in early summer to reminisce about Susan’s eclectic interests, her skill at Scrabble, turtles and sunsets at Margaret Lake and, just maybe, raise a martini in her memory..