Susan "Sue" Stevens

On Friday, August 4, 2023, Susan “Sue” Harriet Stevens passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her family. For over a decade, she managed her symptoms of Parkinsons before she left this dimension at the age of 73. Sue was a kind, generous, compassionate, and sweet mother, wife, and friend. Born in Detroit near Greenlawn and Seventh, she was raised by Rose and Phil Stevens. Sue knew she wanted to be a Social Worker from early on and received her BSW from Michigan State University and her MSW from the University of Michigan. She had a 30 year career as a School Social Worker, primarily helping preschoolers and children with autism through the Play & Learn Center (PAL) in Huron Valley Schools in Oakland County.

Sue met the love of her life, Chip, in Ann Arbor. They settled in the Northside neighborhood and raised two daughters, Liz and Julia. Sue loved laughing, gardening, clothes, shoes, scarves, purses, and makeup. Sue loved to collect things, especially from nature, including wishbones, skeletons, skulls, rocks, and shells. She loved music, having grown up with Motown, and was especially moved by Latin music: salsa, bachata, and merengue. Sue and Chip loved to dance and took Latin dance classes for years, making friends and impressing everyone with their moves and confidence.

Sue’s deepest passion and love was for her children. She was a certified expert in parenting and taught Chip all he needed to know to help raise Liz and Julia into competent, aware, and compassionate people. Sue often wrote them beautiful letters expressing her love, although she never quite felt like she had said enough. Whether the topic was haircuts, relationships, or what matters most in life, she always gave sage (if sometimes ignored) advice and asked probing questions to learn more. She parented by example, demonstrating endless curiosity, playfulness, and commitment to making others’ lives better.

Sue was a dedicated friend, sustaining numerous relationships over decades and making new friends into her last days. These were deep relationships filled with care, concern, conflict, and emotion that she built and maintained with unwavering love. Sue had an impact on everyone she met, always looking out for others and making sure they were okay. She would have given you the shirt off her back, but unfortunately she wore a size extra-small so it probably wouldn’t have fit you.

The feeling of not having enough was a driving force in Sue’s life. She was motivated by a desire for more – more food, more time, more money, more connections, more dancing, more music, and more love, thereby enriching our lives in countless ways.

Sue is survived by her husband Chip Kramer and daughters, Liz Kramer (Michael Landry) and Julia Kramer. She is also survived by her brother Jay Stevens, cousins, nieces, nephews, and many other family and friends who loved her dearly.

In Sue’s memory and in honor of her long struggle with Parkinson’s disease, which is strongly correlated with exposure to environmental pollutants, we encourage you to make donations to one of these organizations: Earthjustice, Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, and Compassion & Choices.

Watch a 25 minute video of her life, created by her husband Chip. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_7rnL7rG0MHbsVfaM0TGVQI5R4oDy0tg/view