WELLESLEY: Susan Jane (Sadowski) Pratt, 71, formerly of Hilltop Drive, East Millbury, MA died Saturday, December 21, 2019 at Newton Wellesley Center for Alzheimer’s Care.

She leaves a sister Patricia A. (Sadowski) Thompson and her husband Robert of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and two brothers, Richard S. Sadowski and his wife Terry of Travelers Rest, South Carolina, and Donald S. Sadowski and his wife Janice of Webster, Massachusetts.

She was born in Worcester, a daughter of Stanley T. Sadowski and Harriet B. (Pogorzelski) Sadowski. She loved, was loved by and leaves many cousins, nephews and nieces.

Susan was a high school “Horace Mann” all straight “A’s” student for consecutive years and a cheerleader at Millbury Memorial High School graduating in 1966. In her adult life she loved long distance running, competing in and completing several marathons including the BAA Marathon in Boston.

She also graduated with a medical technology degree from Framingham State College and worked as a research lab technician at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester until the onset of her illness. She has donated herself to the UMass Medical School Anatomical Gift Program (AGP) through which donors can bequeath their bodies to be used in medical education, in the hope it might be useful in better understanding and one day altogether eliminating this cruel disease.

She was best known as the lead female vocalist and co-founder with her brother Don of the well known and exceptional “Down East” band dating back to the 1970’s. Many will remember their huge musical successes whether at night clubs, weddings or countless celebrations of all kinds throughout New England from The Berkshires to Cape Cod and from Maine to the Connecticut shore. “Down East” was the beloved house band for many years at the Kastle’s Keep in Oxford, MA.

Her final days were restful and dignified due to the several years of compassionate care she received at Newton Wellesley Center for Alzheimer’s Care.

A celebration of her life and calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 PM, Sunday, January 12, 2020 at Robert C. Roney Funeral Home, 152 Worcester Street, North Grafton, MA. Her cousin, the Rev. John M. Lizewski, will be the principal celebrant. At a future date to be determined by the UMass Medical School Anatomical Gifting Program, her burial will be in Notre Dame Cemetery in Worcester with her mother and father. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to UMass Memorial Medical Center 774-443-GIVE (4483), give@umassmemorial.org or UMass Memorial Medical Center Office of Advancement, 333 South Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545