A place for friends & family to express their favourite thoughts and memories of Susan.
Contributions can be added by the form at the bottom of the page.
Our deepest condolences to your family.
– Frank and Mirella ( 1/27/2018 )
Rest peacefully beautiful, tutu wearing warrior.
– Marina Helwig-Ostler (1/26/2018 )
Eric, Ryan And Emma,
We were very saddened by the passing of Susan.
Our deepest sympathies go to your whole family. We didn’t know her very well, but
we’ve heard from my mom nothing but good things.
We got to know her for a short while & we did talk when she would go out in the summer time with her wheelchair. She was such a nice and friendly person! She will be missed!
We are truly happy to have had the opportunity to have known her, even if it was for a short while!
May she rest in peace.
Much love!!
– Paul, Sonia and Lila Massa (1/17/2018)
Eric, Emma and Ryan:
We were deeply saddened to hear about Susan passing…..we will always remember our times together skiing, soccer, basketball and laughing and shopping ourselves silly in Michigan. Susan was a wonderful and devoted mom, wife, friend, and advocate of the neighborhood. We hope the love and memories you have bring you comfort at this di_cult time. xo
– Elaine, Paul, Katherine and Brenna Crone (1/16/2018)
You were the light at the corner of our street…always ready with a treat for the kids, a beautiful smile, kind words, a book recommendation or a hilarious story. Your strength, grace and complete honesty will continue to be an amazing source of inspiration to me and to all that knew you. I am absolutely honoured to have known you and to have called you my friend. Your time was far too short, but you truly lived a beautiful life. Rest easy my friend. xo
– Kelli Hazzard (1/15/2018)
Susan was a wonderful, complicated, dedicated, and ferocious friend, neighbour and political cohort. There are many stories that we will share and we will make many new friends because of the story sharing over the next few months. Suffice to say that her presence will last beyond her days on earth.
– Jim Adams (1/15/2018)
We have met Susan a very short time go. It is with deepest sadness when we have learned of her passing. During our shortest of getting to know each other, she was eloquent, deep with empathy, tenacious, giving and yet standing her ground at all times. We will always remember Susan.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Eric, Emma and Ryan
-Jan and Ewa Jedrasik (1/14/2018)
Susan had such a wonderful spirit. She was incredibly passionate about social justice and equality and it was always a pleasure to bump into her at rallies and meetings.
– Matt (1/14/2018)
My heart is heavy with the news, but my heart is also remembering to be happy for having had the glorious experience of knowing Susan (or Ruby, as I nicknamed her, because she’s such a gem.) Her warmth and support got me through a tough time in my life, and I know there are so many more like me who kept on keeping on because Susan reminded you that you could (and also reminded you that you could laugh!) We’re all better for knowing Susan and her ineuence in the world will just keep going and going. Eric, Emma and Ryan, great big hugs and love to you all.
– Maria Sword (1/14/2018)
Susan always had a smile and a warm greeting for Dave and I and our kids. She was strong and frank, friendly and open (and had a fabulous sense of style!). The little library helped us to get to know her better, as that little box of books (custom made to look like the colourful row houses of her Newfoundland) helped us to slow down, ponder the contents, and discuss books, life, and all that with Susan. She was a positive force on the street and there will be a huge void without her giving spirit. We will celebrate the time we had with Susan.
– Jodi Crawford (1/14/2018)
Dear Eric, Ryan, Emma,
I am so sorry to hear of Susan’s passing. She was a beautiful and inspiring person to all of us, and I will always remember her. I am happy we got to know each other and will miss her. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
– Jessica Presotto (1/13/2018)
Susan had such a kind heart. She was an incredible co-worker, always ready to offer a kind word or advice when needed. Susan knew the neighbourhood so well that working in politics really came naturally to her. It was an honour knowing Susan over those years, and I’ll never forget her warmth and kindness. I’ll miss you, Susan.
– Charles Smith (1/12/2018)
Eric, Emma, Ryan, Uncle Morris and Aunt Janet. Words cannot express our sorrow upon hearing of Susan’s passing. She will be forever remembered for her tenacity and strength.
Much Love From,
Steve & Allison Conohan & Aunt Katie (1/12/2018)
When we were buying our house in November, 2000, there was a knock on the door and a lovely man asked us if we were moving in. When we said that we were, he said “my daughter will be so happy to have a young family next door:” His daughter was Susan. She welcomed us to the neighbourhood immediately, letting me know where I could sign up Vivien Shepherdfor nursery school and swimming lessons, giving us the lowdown on the schools in the neighbourhood, and quickly became my mama mentor, even as late as last year when she advised me of the best driving school to sign Viv up for. I always knew my kids were safe because Susan had their backs. Counselled me over the fence on head lice removal, and navigating all of the perils of mommyhood. Emma’s clothes were passed onto Viv and Emma and Ryan’s books made their way to our house. Susan liked to hang out in her front yard in nice weather. She knew everyone and everyone knew her. She infused the neighbourhood with a spirit of comraderie that I previously thought only existed in movies. We’re the other half of a semi, so you do hear things through the walls. What I remember hearing most was her wonderful laughter. I miss it already. She was head over heels in love with you, Eric, and so very, very proud of your amazing accomplishments, Emma and Ryan. And when she got sick – she fought like a warrior and had so many victories. Truly a marvel. Courageous, honest and loving. May she rest in peace, and may your grief be eased by the love she personijed and your wonderful memories.
– Victoria Shepherd (1/12/2018)
I just saw a message about this and am heartbroken. Sending out all my love to the family. I can honestly say that there are few people who have had such an important impact on me. Susan helped rally an important value of social action when I was doing my co-op from HCI at the constituency o_ce that I still try and carry with me to this day. Sending all my love to the whole family, but especially to you Ryan. Susan was a real joy to be around and she will be greatly missed.
– Alex Betsos (1/12/2018)
Eric, Emma and Ryan,
My heart is so heavy to hear the news of Susan’s passing and my deepest sympathies go to your whole family. It was such an honour and privilege to get to know Susan over the past year. I will always remember the moment she welcomed me into your home with such enthusiasm and energy. Each visit with Susan I left feeling inspired, uplifted and with new insights on life (and motherhood). Her positivity, strength, openness, determination and friendship will forever leave an imprint on me. I will so dearly miss our visits. Sending much love, and light to you all.
– Sarah Symmes (1/12/2018)
Eric, Ryan and Emma, Words cannot describe how great of a person Susan truly was. I will never forget our time working together at City Hall and her jery personality when it came to anything political in the jght for social justice.
My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
– Ray Chan (1/12/2018)
Susan I am crying and smiling because it happened. Because you happened.
Thank you for inviting me into your life. Thank you for becoming my friend. Thank you for loving my children. I am eternally grateful for the time we spent together. Until we meet again.
“Laughter through tears is my favourite emotion” Truvy Jones – Steel Magnolias
– Jessamyn Nitsch (1/12/2018)
Dear Eric, Ryan and Emma,
I am so truly sorry to hear about Susan. Susan was always so exuberant in the way that she viewed the world and I always felt energised after speaking to her. Ryan and Emma, your mom was so very proud of you (rightly so)and when she spoke about you, her love for you was so evident. Over the years we have crossed paths many times and each time I spoke to Susan, I walked away thinking I need to make an effort to get together and then rarely did. There are people that are in our lives that we think we will always see, and Susan is one of those people. I am thinking of Susan, her generosity of spirit, the generosity of her time for so many causes, her cheering on of her own children and everyone else’s too, and her friendship that meant more to me than you may know. We are also thinking of you three, her courageous and loving family.
– All our love, Fiona, John, Alexander, Morgan and William Rankin (1/12/2018)
Eric, Ryan and Emma, Even though Susan may not be with us in body there is a little bit of her in each one of us. For me she sits on my left shoulder when I am out and about in our neighbourhood and talking to people. She is there saying let’s push that bit harder to get things done now and why do things take so long to get done. I had a wonderful conversation with Susan, around Christmas time, at the local No Frills while she and Eric were grocery shopping. As always she was smiling and wearing her bright coloured glasses. She will be missed by all those who have crossed her path but for me I will also always hear her voice.
– Sarah Doucette (1/12/2018)