Margaret C. Phelan

Susie Phelan died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on February 20, 2011 after a lengthy illness. Susie was born in New Orleans Louisiana on December 6, 1948 to Frank Johnson Coogan and Martha Marie Edwards. She grew up in Baton Rouge Louisiana until the family moved to Alabama in 1957. She attended St. Pius X and Convent of Mercy High School in Mobile Alabama. She graduated from Spring Hill College in 1971 and earned a Masters Degree in Vocational and Rehabilitative Counseling from the University of South Alabama in 1973. She moved to Jacksonville Florida in 1975 and lived there until her death.

After moving to Jacksonville Susie became very active in volunteer organizations working with the Junior League and serving on the Board of Directors of Ronald McDonald House. Susie returned to school attending accounting classes at the University of North Florida and earned her CPA in 1989. She worked as an accountant for Coopers & Lybrand and Blue Cross Blue Shield among others until January 2009.

Susie is survived by her beloved sons, Patrick Coogan Phelan and Timothy Michael Phelan, Jr. and her true and caring friend Bruce Roberts of Jacksonville, her sister Ellen Coogan Verret, her niece Sybil Margaret Verret and nephew Laurence Francis Verret of Sugar Land Texas; and two aunts Mrs. Dorothy Edwards Reynaud and Mrs. Helen Edwards Farris both of the New Orleans area. A memorial mass celebrating Susie’s life will be held at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church at 1773 Blanding Blvd. in Jacksonville on Wednesday March 2, 2011 at 10 AM. Susie will be buried in New Orleans. Susie’s family wishes to thank her caregivers and Brian Stephens for their kindness and compassion during the last weeks of Susie’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions in Susie’s name to Ronald McDonald House in Jacksonville, Florida.