Susan Ann Tillery

Susan Ann (Brekhus) Tillery passed away peacefully at home on October 19, 2023, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, and already the world seems a little less bright without her. She was an amazing mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She shared everything she had and more. She was born on February 23, 1941, to Stanley and Frances Brekhus, the third of four children. She attended Holy Rosary Elementary and St. Bernardine's High School. She graduated from San Francisco College for Women with her Bachelor of History. After graduation, she briefly worked at a bank when she met the love of her life, William (Bill) Tillery and they settled in San Bernardino, CA, to be near her parents. She served as a teacher for the San Bernardino Unified School District. The birth of the first of four children quickly followed and then her husband deployed to Vietnam. She went on to get her master's degree from the University of Redlands. She was a dedicated teacher for more than 25 years and taught all five grandchildren to read before kindergarten. Mom's legacy was one of tireless giving, mirroring her deeply held Catholic faith. Her giving was not one of "things" but a lifetime of unconditional love and life experiences, that shaped us all, whether it be an encouraging word, a Broadway show, a rock concert, traveling to Europe and beyond, the opera, the symphony, an art exhibit, current events, skiing, literature, laughter, Gonzaga basketball, Notre Dame football, history lessons, and education, education, education. She was a fierce champion of the underdog. She was a humble intellectual. She was passionate about what you loved, and she encouraged you at every turn. She had many interests and imbued her children with a sense of curiosity and passion for life. She was exceptionally well-read, from classical literature, to poetry, to reading five newspapers a day. She could converse with anyone about anything, but she always learned something. She was devoted to her family, her husband and children, her parents, her siblings, her cousins from Alaska to Wall Drug, South Dakota, to Virginia. She was a prolific letter-writer, and she typically enclosed a news article that reflected your interests. She always looked forward to the next family gathering. Mom had impeccable wit and she loved a clever joke but most of all, was the first to laugh at herself. She encouraged everyone and sacrificed for all. She leaves behind four children Ann (Dan) Murphy, Stephen (Vanessa), Jason, and Marie Tillery, five grandchildren: Ryan, Michaela, Tillery, Maddi Murphy, and Skye Tillery, two brothers, Stanley Jr. (JoAnn), and Peter (Sandy) Brekhus and a sister, Pamela (Dave) McKenney, also numerous nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill. The rosary begins at 10 a.m. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Rosary Cathedral at 10:30 a.m., November 4th, followed by interment at Mt. View Cemetery. A celebration of life will immediately follow at DoubleTree Hilton in San Bernardino, CA. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Operation Smile or the San Bernardino Civic Light Opera.