Jean Lorraine Susko
April 1, 1925-April 19, 2025
Jean Lorraine Susko, 100, passed away on April 19, with her family at her side.
She was born in Detroit, Michigan on April 1, 1925. She met her husband of 72 years when she worked at U. S. Rubber company in Detroit as a secretary and he worked in production.They built a new home in Oak Park, a suburb of Detroit and had four daughters. They moved to Anderson in 1962 when Edward began working at Delco Remy. They also joined St. Mary’s Church in Anderson and attended throughout their lives for as long as they were able. She also volunteered as a Pink Lady at St. John’s hospital for several years.
She leaves behind a sister, Lois Clifford, four daughters: Anita Wiley, Janice Susko, Joan Susko and Maureen (Joel) Eliason. She has nine grandchildren: Edward Wiley, Wesley Cottrell, Nikosha (Marcus) Orchard, Michelle Naidoo, Jay Naidoo, Andrea Angel, Jennifer Duc (Ryan Rinaldi), Rachel (Wayne) Blosser, and Isaac (Nikki) Eliason. She also has 11 great grandchildren: Luca and Jonah Orchard, Kimaya Naidoo and James Eckerson lll, Annabel Angel, Finny and Reggie Rinaldi, Isabel and Lily Blosser, and Charlotte and Margaret Eliason.
She was preceded in death by her husband Edward, her father, John Furby, her mother, Stella (Smith) Furby, and siblings John Furby and Anne Dyment.
She recently celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Our mother had the warmest heart and showed kindness to everyone who was fortunate enough to know her. Throughout her life she was a caring and gentle wife, mother to her four daughters, and grandmother to her nine grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
While raising four youngsters, she was also a caretaker of our great grandmother who lived to be 96, our grandmother and our great aunt Clara, family members who lived with us for many years until each one passed away.
Mom was a world class worrier, but who could blame her. She was raised in Detroit during the depression and lived through World War ll. She raised her family during the tumultuous 60’s and 70’s when understanding the changing times and expectations for her teen-aged girls was changing before her eyes. But she was extremely smart and well-read, and had an open mind and heart.
She was a talented seamstress who made us mini-skirts, prom dresses, even bridesmaid dresses, and a couple of swim suits. We spent a lot of time in JoAnne Fabric! She also loved to embroider and each of us has treasured needlepoint works of art in our homes.
Mom was obsessively tidy. She cleaned the house from top to bottom every Saturday, shooing us out to spend the mornings with dad… first at the bagel shop in Detroit, and then to Sears and Roebuck downtown for a hot dog and shopping trip in the hardware section.
After her children grew up and started families of their own, mom became the primary caregiver of several of her grand children, as we all worked on our developing careers. She was their nanny, their pre-school teacher, and their grandma all rolled into one. She cared for them when they were babies and when they went off to school, she drove them there in the mornings and picked them up after school. She covered doctor and orthodontist appointments for her working daughters, and she never missed their school activities and sporting events. The cousins grew extremely close because they were together with her so much of their early lives. We probably did not appreciate her generous effort nearly as much as we should have!
Throughout her life she also loved to travel on family vacations and later with our dad across the country and even to Canada. After dad retired, they made frequent trips to Las Vegas. She loved the Black Hills and the Canyon Lands on their long drives. She also spent six months with dad in France while he helped to establish a new GM plant there.
In her last few years, she could be persuaded to get out of the house but only if it included a trip to the casino. We would push her around in a wheel chair to all her favorite slots, and most days she was pretty lucky.
Our mother lived a life full of challenges, full of joy and love. Her commitment to family was the cornerstone of her life, and we were so blessed to have had her in our lives all of these years.
We would like to express sincere thanks and much love to Lisa Walker, her home health care worker, who also cared for our father until he passed. She has become such a vital part of our family throughout these past 12 years, and we consider her our 5th sister and very special friend. She has been so kind and caring to mom whose life would have been much more difficult without her. Lisa has been a true angel in our lives.
We would also like to express thanks to Jill and Cara from Compassus Hospice for helping mom with her transition these past few weeks. We so appreciate their thoughtful care and concern.
Service will be 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at Rozelle-Johnson Funeral Service with Father Christian DeCarlo officiating. Burial will follow at East Maplewood Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 10:00am -12:00pm at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be given to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Post online condolences at www.rozelle-johnson.com