Shelburne resident Susan Cooke Kittredge is the daughter of the late journalist Alistair Cooke. Susan will present a talk about her father's life and a rare screening of his 1933 short film on Charlie Chaplin at Ilsley Public Library in Middlebury on May 5. The talk, "The Unseen Alistair Cooke," is part of the Vermont Humanities Council's First Wednesdays lecture series and takes place at 7p.m. There are many other interesting aspects to this woman's life noted below.

Family: As the daughter of a prominent journalist, Susan explained that Alistair Cooke did not like the refined title of journalist; he preferred to be considered a dedicated reporter. She recalls her dad sitting at the table typing on the typewriter with two fingers. In 2004, when her dad was diagnosed with cancer, the many letters of thanks and appreciation started pouring in. Cooke died one month after his diagnosis. Susan laughs as she recalls hearing her mother on the phone saying that he was given six months to live and he only used one. Her mother is currently 97-years-old and lives in Montpelier. Susan has five children. Her oldest, Adam, lives in Denver, has two children, and is a lawyer. Her next son, Zebulon, lives in Houston, works for NASA, and has one child, and another one on the way. Her daughter Eliza works for the CNN reporter Anderson Cooper and lives in New York City. Her next oldest daughter lives in Burlington and works at A Single Pebble restaurant and Sojourn in Charlotte. Susan's youngest daughter, Jane, is 25 and lives in Manhattan and is a violinist. Susan and her husband, Charlie, have been married for 31 years, and moved to Shelburne two years ago.

Education and career: Susan grew up in Manhattan and laughs as she explains that the stork that was carrying her must have been flying over Vermont and sneezed, having her land in Manhattan, because she knew she was always meant to live in Vermont. She went to summer camps here as a child, and moved to Vermont in 1968. At 19, Susan was married to her first husband. She was working in publishing. One day as she was standing in line to register for classes at NYU, she realized that this was not what she wanted to do and by the time she was at the front of the line she knew she wanted to withdraw from all classes. Later on in life after she had moved to Vermont and was raising her children in Middlesex, she decided she wanted to go into the ministry. But she also realized that it was time for her to get her degree. She took adult classes to receive an undergraduate degree and then attended the Andover Newton Theological School for her masters of divinity. It took her 10 years to achieve this because she had a family and could only take classes part time. She called this time in her life a "speed bump" and said she could only do it because she had such a supportive husband and family. The first church she ministered at was the Old Meeting House in Montpelier. The next chapter in Susan's life brought her to be a hospital chaplain at Fletcher Allen and Fanny Allen Hospitals. She was responsible for writing sermons and preparing hymns for a service that was normally empty, although patients could turn their televisions on a channel and watch the service. She was also available for emergencies and visiting patients. Although she said she loved the ministry, she also said it was totally exhausting. So, she decided, "I would be a relief preacher." Currently, she is minister at the Charlotte Congregational Church for three months, and will soon be at the Hinesburg United Church. She said this job is wonderful for her for now.

Favorite food: Bread

Favorite music: Eclectic music: classical, Celtic, folk, and acoustic guitar

Favorite movie: "Dead Man Walking"

Hobbies: Gardening, foraging for mushrooms, cross-country skiing, sprint triathlons, biking, swimming, and "I'm addicted to audio books, they are so relaxing."

First concert: The Nutcracker

Pets: A five-year-old American field lab named Nell

Bucket List: As she looked out the view from her home at Lake Champlain she said, "I feel so lucky every day. I feel like I've died and gone to Heaven. I don't want to miss the here and now."