Obituary of Susan Elaine Patterson

Susan Elaine Patterson was born May 31, 1969 in Huntington Station, New York to Robert and Barbara Patterson. She passed away on November 1, 2022 at the age of 53. Susan is survived by her siblings, Robert (Mary), Jean (Bill), Donald (Sara) and Nancy (Stuart), seven nieces and nephews and many dear friends. She attended Minnetonka High School and Michigan State University. Susan worked as a children’s museum creative, a clothing designer, a baker, and a specialty food representative, ending her career at Seattle Chocolate.

As Susan’s illness progressed she spent her days resting near a bay of windows flooded with the golden light of a maple tree. Just after we lost Susan, the towering maple's bright yellow leaves finally gave in to early winter.

But as friends and family return to life without her, we’re finding that Susan’s memory animates itself like a little finger puppet from under the table whenever silliness is allowed into the moment. An old Frenchy song, a sweater with a bright, happy pattern, a cat named “Mouse,” a pink house, tiny barrettes, retro eyeglass frames, food experiments like wild violet juice, gifts that were multi-day projects, surprising idioms from yesteryear; these are a few examples of her individualism. Susan’s choices, actions and creations showed us the beauty, positivity and joy in unconventionality. Her lack of self-consciousness about it revealed her authenticity. She dared to be herself and to be guided by a love of life. It’s no wonder that many people remarked she was a “ray of sunshine.”

We miss her tremendously but are thankful her suffering is over. We plan to spend some time putting the final chapter of her life to rest and then will celebrate her bright life as the days get longer next spring. I hope you will join us. Thank you for all the ways you helped.