A light went out on April 4, 2011, when Susan passed away after a long battle with cancer. All who knew her will remember her beautiful smile, her loving friendships, her devotion to her family, and her deep affection for small children.
Susan grew up in Fair Oaks, where she returned twenty years ago to a 1926 Craftsmen home of her dreams, participating generously in the community. A consummate gardener, Susan's large beautiful flower garden and koi pond were featured on the cover and in a multi-page spread in the Sacramento Bee's California Life Home and Garden Section. She also raised a vegetable garden at the Fair Oaks Community Garden. Susan was an excellent cook and belonged to a local gourmet dinner group of her friends.
She was a graduate of San Juan High School and California State University-Sacramento, where she received a Masters Degree in Education. She taught Special Education at the elementary level in the Sacramento Unified School District until her retirement. She traveled to Europe and the Hawaiian Islands on many occasions and visited public gardens in England, France, the Hawaiian Islands, and throughout the western United States. She and her husband vacationed in the western United States in their Airstream travel trailer as members of the Northern California Unit of the Wally Byam Caravan Club of which she was a past officer. She was a Life Member of the Fair Oaks Historical Society and a past officer in the local Woman's Thursday Club.
Susan will be greatly missed by Ray, her husband of thirty eight years; brothers Jerry, Ted and Bob Honkanen; children Loree Freeman, Lester Falloon and daughter-in-law Nicole, as loved and loving as any daughter, Laura Vendeiro, and Karen Nathan; grandchildren Travis Sr. and Nathan Freeman, Steven Jones, Justina Hollis, and Zachary and Carly Vendeiro; and great grand children, Travis Freeman Jr. and Noelle Jones. Her parents Toivo and Lucille Honkanen, preceded her in death.
A celebration of her life will be held between 12:30 and 2 pm on Tuesday, April 19th at the Mt. Vernon Chapel, 8201 Greenback Lane, Fair Oaks, followed by a reception.
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