Susan Diane Monserud, died on March 24, 2026 at the age of 85 in Southbury CT following a short illness. Susan was born and raised in Cloquet, Minnesota, the daughter of Niels Ordell Monserud, MD and Florence Evelyn Larson. 

After graduating from The University of Minnesota Duluth, she studied and taught art in Norway. Upon her return, she met and married George C. Christie, then Professor of Law at The University of Minnesota. In 1967, George and Susan moved to Durham, NC. A year later, Susan gave birth to their son, Constantine G. Christie. 

In the early 1970s, Susan and George divorced. Susan went back to school, earning a Master of Architecture degree from North Carolina State University School of Design. Susan took pride in being a trailblazer, one of only a few female architects in what was at the time a male-dominated profession, and she went on to obtain the prestigious and professionally important designation registered architect.

During her more than 20-year career, Susan specialized in health care architecture. She began her career working with the North Carolina Office of Rural Health. In 1977, she moved to Washington, DC, where Susan worked for Metcalf and Associates throughout the 1980’s. She also traveled the world consulting on the planning and space programming of small community health care centers in numerous developing countries including Egypt, Tunisia, Rwanda, Mali, The Gambia, Kyrgyzstan and Barbados. Susan met Richard Sonder of the firm Russo+Sonder around 1984 when they collaborated on a University of Virginia Hospital project. 

Ric and Susan would fall in love, marry in 1991, and retire to Litchfield County. Living in Connecticut, Susan pursued the visual arts on a full-time basis and exhibited her artwork in many local galleries. 

Susan is survived by her son, Constantine Christie, her two stepchildren, Gina Sonder and Tim Sonder, and her four step-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband Richard Sonder.

Munson Lovetere Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements. To leave an online condolence please visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com