Suzanne practiced nursing in the Metro Detroit area since 1976 and worked at various hospitals throughout Southeast Michigan. Her last job in Michigan was as an Oncology Certified Nurse with the University of Michigan Cancer Center. There as a Staff Infusion Nurse, she helped those inflicted with similar diseases as her. Besides calling on science and medicine, she drew from her own personal experiences with cancer to help her patients cope with their difficult times. Before her passing Suzanne had applied for her California Nursing License so she could continue helping others.
Suzanne loved her family and they were always put before her own wellbeing. She enjoyed socializing, meeting new people, traveling, and living life to the fullest.
Although she dabbled in an array of hobbies, she was an arts and craftsperson extraordinaire, a talented seamstress and gardener, and was picking up rose gardening after moving to Santa Paula with her husband Jack in May of last year.
Her wonderful smile and presence always kept a room cheerful. Her laugh was loud and contagious and her energy and views about life were infectious.
One of her many passions included breast cancer awareness and telling her story to help others. An advocate of fighting breast cancer and finding a cure, she participated in numerous walks including the Susan G. Komen Three Day and the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Not only a walker, she was usually called upon to be a speaker or to participate in the opening/closing ceremonies.
She is survived by her husband, Jack; her two children, Gretchen and Nathan; her parents, Vic and Esther Schroeder of Interlochen, MI; her remaining sisters, Johanna DeMeyer and Heidi Good of Royal Oak, MI and South Lyon, MI; and many nieces, nephews, and other family and friends, to whom she brought great joy and caring. She is predeceased by her youngest sister Gretchen Little, 2007.
Memorial gifts may be made in Suzie’s name to one of three organizations: The American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org), where she was a spokesperson; SU2C – Stand Up to Cancer (standup2cancer.org), whose Breast Cancer team is led by Sue’s CA doctor; or the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which provides funding for Suzie’s other world class doctor, Daniel Hayes.
A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, February 20 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Oxnard. A service will also be held in Michigan, with interment in Mount Hope Cemetery in Interlochen, Michigan this spring.
Sunny D. Schmidt
My beloved soul mate Sunny left this world on January 31 at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara from a major stroke.
She began life in Ansonia, Connecticut on October 15, 1947. Her parents, Ray and Marion Downing, soon went west to Kansas with Sunny and her sister Chris. After a few years the family took another trip in their Spartan trailer to California, eventually locating in Pacific Palisades, where Sunny grew up and finished her education.
Sunny loved nature and all of her feathered and furry friends. Caring for her little ones came before caring for herself. When she was younger she hand raised an orphaned baby raccoon. A threat to them or family and friends would meet her fearless lion self.
She had a special bond with animals, particularly her cat Rhea. They started each day with Rhea nuzzling her neck while Sunny drank her British tea; Mom Marion was from England and they both had a love for tea and sweets.
Sunny created beauty in everything she did. She had a passion for making amazing jewelry. She loved to play her piano and occasionally burst out in song, having a gift for music. A perfect day was caring for her garden and cymbidiums.
Sunny made a beautiful home, and loved to travel and plan the trips. Meals she prepared would equal what a fine restaurant served.
As a partner in our two family businesses, Sunny skillfully managed marketing, accounting and office tasks.
Sunny served Santa Paula in many ways. She gave many hours to the Santa Paula Aviation Museum, and served as a board member. She organized the first fundraiser to buy a city police dog, and helped other fundraising. Sunny was active in city and neighborhood issues as a leader and organizer.
Sunny loved her family, planning Aries birthday parties, shoot-outs at the OK Corral and other adventure outings.
Sunny’s spirit and courage, through two decades of challenging medical problems, never failed her; her body did. She now joins her mom Marion, kitty Rhea, son Rolly, daughter Heidi, and other family and friends.
She leaves her husband Jer, dad Ray (Gisela), sister Chris, son Deric, daughter-in-law Alison (Mike), grandsons Colton (Melissa), Hunter, Jason, Justin (Francesca), Jesse, Drew and Reese, great-grandkids MiKaela, Tyler and Baileigh, brother and sister-in-law Ral and Carol, cousins, nephews, nieces, family and friends.
The beautiful soul behind those gorgeous eyes and smile is free again to soar, to be free, to love.
There will be a small celebration of Sunny’s life for family.
