Happy heavenly birthday. You are missed down here everyday. I love you so much!

3 years today we lost you. I think of you everyday and wish you where still here with us. I love you mom

Can't believe that is now three years since you have passed, almost to the minute. I miss you so much. Losing you was the biggest hurt I ever felt in my life. But now memories of the things we did together make me smile instead of cry. There was a time after you left, I didn't think that would be possible. I love you. I pray you are warm and happy in paradise where you also pray for me.

Love you. Thanks for being such a a beautiful person and bringing such joy into our lives.

Happy Mothers day Mom. Thank you for teaching me how to be a mom. Alex and I have the best relationship. This I owe to you. I love you so much and I miss you every single day. You are always in my thoughts.

Happy Thanksgiving Mom! I am hoping my meal is even close to how delicious your Thanksgiving meals where. Such great memories you created for us. Happy early birthday to you as well. Love you and miss you all the time.

This will be our third Thanksgiving without you here. We all miss you so much. But we remember the wonderful Thanksgivings past where you made epic feasts, made us wear funny paper hats, and filled us all with enough warmth to last until the next Thanksgiving. We all still love you so much. Happy Birthday, and know you still live in our memories and our hearts.

Thinking of you this morning as I do everyday. I miss my best friend. I love you

2 years today since we lost you. I miss you everyday.  I love you

Miss you every day. The hurt of loss has now turned to smiles of memories. Thank you for a lifetime of love.

Missing you extra hard these last few days. I still need my mama. I hope you hear me when I talk to you. ❤️❤️❤️

Happy Mothers day grandma. Miss you always 

Happy Mothers day Mom. I cant count how many times I have wished I could call you and tell you some news or to  get your advice. I love you and miss you everyday.  

Happy anniversary to my beautiful wife. Although you are physically gone, you live in my heart today and forever.

To my beautiful wife...I miss you more than ever on this Easter Sunday. I remember the feasts of joy you prepared for the family and the love we shared. I smile at the memory of the silly hats you made us wear during Easter dinner. The pain of your loss still hurts today, but I wouldn't trade one minute of our time together for all the riches in the world.

The days are starting to become warmer and sunny. I know how much you loved warm weather. Days like this are a reminder of your wonderful smile, happy nature, caring, and gentleness. I will always love you.

Valentines Day is upon us. You will always be my first love. I still miss you every hour of every day.

Merry Christmas to my beautiful wife and lifetime companion. I love you as much today as the day we were married. 

Mom Christmas is here. Another one without you. Dad is on his way to visit us here. You will be with us in our hearts. I love you so very much

Feeling the loss of Sue at this time of the year. Sue always lite up Christmas making it extra special. This year I am able to think of those special holiday times without as much hurt.  Thank you Sue for giving me those special memories that are mine to hold onto and call up anytime I want.

Happy Heavenly Birthday Aunt Susan! Love you!!!


Happy Birthday and Happy Thanksgiving. Missing you extra today, love you <3.

Happy Birthday my love. It is appropriate for Thanksgiving to come on the same day as your Birthday. Today I give thanks for the 58 years we had together and the two wonderful daughters and granddaughter that came from our love of each other. Though you are physically gone, I can still feel your presence every day. I stare at your picture every morning and every night, so I will never forget your beautiful face,

Your on my mind today. I was thinking about how amazing your and dad's love story was. I miss you everyday and hope you know how much you are loved. 

I couldn't have asked for a better wife from God. He blessed me with this beautiful woman for over 56 years. I can't thank Him enough.

The weather here has been gray and rainy. Weather you would dislike. I know you are now in a place that is always sunny and warm. That makes me smile.

Still missing you. Thank you, God for bringing this angel into my life.

One year ago today we lost you.  This past year I have done my best to live without a huge piece of my heart. I love you so much my angel in heaven. 

It's been a year since you left. Our parting is but temporary. I will hold you in my heart until I can hold you again in heaven.


Today I lost the love of my life.  No one will ever be close to me like you were. It has been 2 years since you left me. I miss more today than yesterday. I will always love more today than yesterday. No other person can take your place in my life but one day I will be with you again my love, my husband. Love you always to the moon and back my love.

I think of you every day. I try to love Tucker the way you and grandpa love each other, it is one of the purest versions of love I know.  I wish you could have met him. I love and miss you so much.

My beautiful wife. Always loved, never forgotten.


I tell you that I love you every day. I feel your presence and know you are watching and waiting for me.

Thinking of you today, as I do every hour of every day. I can't thank God enough for the wonderful gift He gave me when you came into my life. 

Happy Mothers day. Your first in heaven. I know you are the most beautiful angel up there. I miss you terribly.  ❤️

The recent beautiful spring days remind me of how much you enjoyed this season. The fresh sweet smells of spring, the promise of renewal, and the warmth of the sun all make me miss you ever more. I love you.

You remain the most beautiful person I've ever met. I miss you so much.

Things are becoming a little easier for me. However, I still miss you very much. The weather is beginning to turn to spring, your favorite time of year. I miss our drives, our shopping, and the wonderful evenings we shared together. God took you too soon, but I thank him every day for the 56+ years He gave us.

Spring was Sue's most favorite time of year. This will be the first one since her death. It will be a lonely season without her.


I thank God for the 56 years we had together.

Missing you everyday. I still don't believe your gone. ❤

The winter is so cold and dark without you, Sue. I still love you intensely.


I love you, Susie. I always will love you.

5 months today since you have been gone. I miss you everyday. I love you. I was truly blessed to have such a loving mother. You were my best friend. ❤

Going into 2022 without Sue being by my side is heartbreaking. I love you, Sue. 

I look at your picture every day and thank God for blessing me with 56 years of marriage to the most beautiful woman I ever knew. I look forward to being with you again forever.

Made it through first Christmas without Sue.  God, how I miss her.

Merry Christmas, Susie. I love you and miss you.

The holidays aren't the same. I miss you everyday. I was incredibly blessed to have you as a mother and friend. Love you mom

In 1964 Sue and I went to see the movie West Side Story. It was the first movie we saw together. Yesterday I went, with a friend to see the remake. It occurred to me during the first parts of the movie that this was also the first movie I saw after Sue passed. Oh, how I miss her.

Always in my thoughts, forever in my heart.

Uncle Dennis,
Words cannot express how sad we are for your loss with Heidi, Michele and Alexandra!
Just watched the tribute for Aunt Susan. It was beautiful. I cannot believe how much (at different times), she looked like Grandma Butt , like my oldest sister Nancy, who passed in 1972, and my Dad. At times she looked like Grandpa especially with his smile. I pray that you have a peaceful Christmas, knowing they are in heaven looking down on us! Lost your phone #, please leave a msg with it on mine when you feel up to it. 305-389-0730.

One of the sad truths about life is that you don't know how much you love someone until they are gone.  Every day I find another reason to miss you. My love for you has actually grown since your passing.

The world is a darker place without you. You lite up my life with your love. I miss you so much.

Mom we just had our first Thanksgiving without you. You were in our hearts that day as you are everyday.  I love you so much and feel so blessed to have had such a great mom. ❤

Love you and miss you. I picture you in heaven with mom, dad, Debbie, and Ken, pain-free and beautiful.

Celebrated your birthday with family last night. Today we will light a candle during dinner to signify your presence at the Thanksgiving meal. 

We have so much for which to be thankful. He gave us the most wonderful mother, wife, and friend for 56 years.

Aunt Susan, I went to call you today for your birthday! Sadly,  I did not know of your passing! My condolences to Uncle Dennis, Michelle, Heidi! Sending love and hugs! Love, Linda, Debra, Jeff, James and Robert.

I love you, and miss everything about you.

56 years with you was not enough time for me to show you how much I love you.  I looked at your pictures last night, and for the first time was able to focus on the joy of being with you rather than the pain of losing you.

I was thinking about the last time I talked to you. I didn't know what to say because what do you say to someone who knows they're going to die soon. Now I wish I told you how amazing you were, how many lives you changed, and how many people loved you. You were a light in every life you touched. I hope you can see it.

At Support Group last night we talked about people becoming angry at God for taking loved one. I couldn't relate since I thank God every day for bringing Sue into my life for over 55 years. I love her so much.

You have been gone 3 months today.  I wish I could call you to talk about it. I love you and miss you terribly Mom. 

Arrived at church an hour early today. I can't even know what time it is without Sue.  I love her so much.

Had a beautiful mass service for Sue last night. For an hour it was almost like she was back with me. Oh, how I miss her.

Still missing you like mad. Things I'll never hear you say again:

Take a coat, it's gonna get cold.
Don't forget your wallet.
Your keys are in the basket.
Did you take your medication?
What do you want for supper?
Did you shave this morning?
I love you.


I love and miss you grandma. I wish I knew more about your life when you were here. I cant believe Ill never see you again. At least not in this life.

I love you more today than ever before because now I know how much I depended on you for almost everything. Without you, I am less than half a person. 

I love you, now and forever. I will never forget you.  You will always be with me, and I with you.

Two month anniversary of the darkest day of my life: 8/8/2021 at 6:23 in the morning. 

I miss you, Sue more then I thought ever possible.

My brother, Rick, made little progress from his boating accident. He still was very limited. His head remained stabilized in a halo. Paralysis was very likely. The hospital he was in had limited experience in dealing with his injury.

Sue and Rick talked, and she insisted he come to Baltimore. There was a hospital in the city better equipped in aiding in his recovery. Everyday Sue drove him into the city for his therapy. She took care of his needs, encouraged him, helped him with his exercises. She literally saved his life. 

She was an angel long before she died.

Mom it hasn't even been 2 months since you left us. It feels so much longer.  I miss you everyday. I love you very much. 

I generally did not call Sue by her name. Instead I used the  pet name I gave her early in our marriage, used throughout her life, and now even onto death. That name was simply: "LOVE"

Sue was first, and always a lady. She never purposely hurt anyone. She gave her love easily and in 56 years I rarely heard her say unkind word about anyone. She had the patience of a saint, and was always ready to forgive. But if she seen wrong being done to someone she would stand strong and defend the injured.

Sue always loved animals, all animals. One day while standing at the kitchen window, she saw a bird sitting on a picket fence. As she watched, the bird slipped into the crack between the pickets. Somehow it got its foot caught and could not free itself. She yelled to me to come, grabbed a towel, and ran to its aid. By the time she arrived, the bird had exhausted itself and hung limply. 

Carefully, she cradled the bird in the towel and freed its leg. However, it was clear the bird’s leg was broken. Taking control of the situation, she told me to get the carrier we used to take the cats to the vet. She gently placed the bird in the carrier. The rest of the afternoon, she began calling every vet in the phone book looking for one that would treat the bird. After numerous calls, she found one about 20 miles away. We took the bird to the vet. 

Every couple of days thereafter, Sue would call to get the status of the bird’s recovery. After about a month the vet said the bird had recovered enough to be set free. The vet refused to take any payment. He worked with Fallston Animal Shelter which became one of Sue’s favored charity.


My mother and father had moved to Florida after retirement. After a couple of happy years, my dad got sick and died. My mother was left alone with few friends and no relatives near by. She grieved terribly. We spent practically every night on the phone with her. After a few months, I became a little impatient with her sorrow. I had no idea what she was experiencing. Sue remained compassionate and would listen to mom as long as she wanted to talk.

When it became apparent mom was not handling this period well, Sue made the decision to travel to Florida, help mom pack her belongings, and drove her back to live with us. This was the strong decisive Sue that had an innate sense of how to help the most saddened people. 

Our youngest daughter accepted a marriage proposal, and a wedding was planned for July 9, 1995. It was to be a joyous event with our entire family coming in from across the country. Sue organized the house so we could accommodate the guests. All was joyous until we got the call that my brother, Rick, had a serious boating accident days before the planned wedding, and if he survived, he would most likely be paralyzed for life. The family rallied around Rick during his hospitalization in Wisconsin. This meant that my daughter’s wedding suddenly became very much smaller. 

Life is a series of ups and downs. This time Sue became the strength and guidance for the entire family offering clarity and direction. 


Sue had many different interests and loves. After family, Sue love animals most. Throughout our life together, we always had either a cat or dog, always a rescue animal. A couple years after relocating to Maryland, our cat Annie died, leaving a void in our household. Shortly thereafter, Sue contacted a rescue organization in the area. A foster car-lady brought two cats for us to consider. They were sisters. We only wanted one cat, but when Sue saw the close connection, they had together, she insisted we take both. Hence became the two cats named Bonnie and Clyde. 

Thinking of you and missing you everyday. I still have the urge to call you to let you know what's happening in my life. I miss our talks and your wisdom. Alex remind me she was born at 6:23 in the morning. The exact same time you left us. I choose to believe its not a coincidence. I love you Mom. ❤

In Maryland, we settled into a normal routine and life-style. We both made new friends. Sue developed a close relationship with our next-door neighbor, Sandy. Our two families took on the properties of family. 

Sandy worked as a nurse and would sometimes work late shifts. The first thing Sue did every morning was to  check to make sure Sandy's car was back in their drive-way. Sue cared about others more than anyone else I ever, or will ever know. Her caring and kindness is what I think I miss most about her.


In 1991, I had an offer to take a position in Maryland. I was torn by the options, unable to decide regardless how many pros/cons charts I constructed and analyzed. On the last day I had left to let the Maryland company know if I would accept their offer, Sue stepped in with a decision that was so clearly thought through and articulated it seemed obvious. Sue never finished high school, but she had the wisdom of Solomon. Thinking back now, I realize that she was not only the heart of our partnership, but also the strength and brain.

There were happy days and challenging days in Illinois. With immediate family members (parents and siblings) disbursed across the globe, our frequent large family gatherings evaporated. At times we felt isolated, but by being with Sue, I never felt alone. Our two girls grew and built relationships with friends. Sue focused on cooking. She began her cookbook collection that grew to municipal library size. Her culinary creations were astounding. 

During this period Sue and I began to take “day trips” to historic sites and other points of interest. While the destinations were sometimes interesting, and sometimes disappointing, it was the ride during which Sue and I just talked and shared thoughts that became my favorite part of the week. We built so many memories. 


Pause in Sue’s story to commemorate the one-month date from Sue’s passing on August 8, 2021. I was with her at the end, one month ago when she took her last desperate breath. I am thankful I could be there holding her hand and telling her I love her. I can't imagine the additional pain people felt that couldn’t be with their loved ones during Covid isolations. 

We stayed in the second house for a few years, making repairs when we could afford and enjoying the closeness of a large family. However, our large close family began to drift apart. Sue’s father and mother died. My parents planned to move to Florida. One of my brothers joined the Navy. My sister moved to Houston. I had a job offer in Illinois which I accepted. 

Our little family of four moved to Vernon Hills, IL. For a while it was a sad time being away from family. It was especially hard on Sue since the girls had school to dampen the separation, and I had my new job. Sue was left to do everything else associated with a move to a new location and new state. Without any prior experience, she managed the web of car titles, doctors, insurance, school enrollment, utility connections, bank accounts, and dozens of other things needed to be done flawlessly. Apparently, saints can also be very efficient.


In the mid-70s, we were ready for a larger house. We settled on a four-BR two story house in the suburbs. After we bought it and moved in, we discovered the house was a disaster. Leaky roof, cracked foundation, flooding basement, and a well that provided water at a drip pace. Yet, life remained blessed by love of family and Sue’s warm heart. 

Around that time, Sue’s RA began to flare. It became difficult for her to walk upstairs. My father installed a second set of handrails so there was a handrail on both sides so Sue could better balance herself and relieve the pain in her knees and feet when she climbed the steps. Again, Sue took the pain like a saint. She rarely complained even as the joints in her feet and hands began to swell and become misshapen. 

We stayed in our first house for eight years. At least twice a week we enjoyed large family dinners, with ten or more people, at my parents. Football season Sundays were special as the entire family would cheer for the Packers. As Christmas neared, Sue, my sister, Debbie, and mom would make Christmas cookies while us boys would watch the game. My daughters would play with my sister’s kids, Jason and Jamie. The house was loud, busy, and brimming with love.  We lived paycheck to paycheck. Sue always found a way to make sure the bills were paid.

Michele had been telling everyone at school she had a sister. After a couple promotions and raises, Sue and I felt we were financially able to grow our little family. In 1972 we were blessed with our second daughter, Heidi. After her birth, we realized that our family had been incomplete without her. We were so happy. God truly blessed us.

Sue walked Michele to school on her first day in kindergarten. It was to be the first time she had to part from Michele leaving her with “strangers.” After Michele went into the school, Sue lingered on the playground unable to abandon her daughter. Eventually, the teacher had to come outside and ask her to leave. It was a funny story at the time, but it exemplified the loyalty and love that defined Sue.

We bought our first house in 1969. It was a small two-BR, one bath house in a nice neighborhood. It had a large back yard.  I found a job at a mortgage company. Sue continued to work part time at her parents dry cleaning company. Eventually, we even were able to put in an above ground swimming pool. Sue was stunning in a swim suit. These were happy days. 

We lived in the upstairs apartment for two years. I worked while Sue took care of everything else including washing the diapers using an antique ringer-washing machine in the storm cellar. 

As autumn turned to winter, Sue’s soft hands became red and chapped from hanging wet clothes in the outside to dry. She took care of Michele, walked to the store three blocks away to do the food shopping, paid the bills, cooked, and cleaned. She also was preparing for a planned ballet recital.  At night, I would put a warm towel on her knees to help soothe the “discomfort” the doctor assured would eventually go away. I don’t ever remember her complaining about anything.

We had virtually nothing, but we were happy.


OBITUARY

Susan Jankowski

November 24, 1948 – August 8, 2021

Schimunek Funeral Home

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services