Susan Ludlow Parish ("Cousin Susie") was Eleanor Roosevelt's
godmother and one of her strongest links to the New York
society of her birth. Strait-laced and opinionated, Susie
Parish, like Sara Delano
Roosevelt, had a dominant personality. Yet while ER's
relationship with SDR was complex and often painful, ER's
relationship with her strong-willed cousin remained loving
and close until her cousin's death.
Cousin Susie, the first cousin of ER's mother, Anna Hall
Roosevelt, became a surrogate mother to ER. ER stayed with
her often, particularly after her parents separated, and
Cousin Susie was the one who broke the news of Anna's death
to her. She was also one of the family members who told
ER of her father's alcoholism. ER continued to live with
Susie and her husband, New York banker Henry Parish, Jr.,
off and on as she grew older. Susie took ER through her
initial season as a debutante and when ER became engaged
to Franklin, Cousin
Susie was one of the first to learn the news. (She also
counseled ER to abide by Sara Roosevelt's wishes and keep
the engagement secret for a year.) Later she took an active
part in planning ER's wedding by helping ER buy her trousseau
and linens and hosting the wedding in her home.
After ER's marriage, Cousin Susie, like SDR, scrutinized
every aspect of ER's life. Both women, for example, urged
ER to give up her settlement house work because they feared
she would bring diseases home. When ER wanted to raise her
children without the help of governesses they were appalled
and disapproving. They were equally distressed when ER's
increasing political activism caused her to pull away from
the norms and conventions of their class. However, ER never
completely broke with Cousin Susie or SDR, and their ideas
continued to influence the way she brought up her children,
particularly her daughter, Anna,
who was subjected over her strenuous objections to the rigors
of a debutante season orchestrated, as ER's had been, by
Cousin Susie.
As she aged, Susie became increasingly reliant on prescription drugs to combat
a variety of psychological illnesses. Her self-centeredness
combined with her rigid political and social views made
ER's time with her difficult, but the two women continued
to see each other annually, usually at one of Susie's homes.
Susie died in 1950 leaving ER a bequest of $25,000. ER used this money to buy
stock, which she in turn left to her friends in her will.
Sources:
Cook, Blanche Wiesen. Eleanor Roosevelt, Volume One,
1884-1933.
New York: Penguin Books, 1992, 115-116, 136, 162, 178-179,
187, 299.
Cook, Blanche Wiesen. Eleanor Roosevelt, Volume Two,
1933-1938.
New York: Viking Press, 1999, 121.
Lash, Joseph P. Eleanor and Franklin. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1971, 99, 137-139, 155, 245.
Lash, Joseph P. Eleanor: The Years Alone. New York: W.W. Norton &
Company, 1972, 237, 323.