Susan was born June 21, 1949 in Memphis, Tennessee to Robert and Delores Irvin. She leaves behind a sister, Kathleen Taylor (Tim); niece, Elizabeth and great-nephews, Grayson and Keagan; a brother, Robert Irvin (Linda); niece, Kelly Caldwell (Stephen), 2 great-nephews, Jakob and Jayden, and a great-niece, Laura. She also leaves behind her lifelong friend, Betty Evans.
Susan pursued a career in the field of nursing as her mother did. After graduating from Bishop Byrne High School in 1967, she went on to complete her nursing degree from St. Joseph Nursing School and began her nursing career in 1970.
Moving to New Orleans to take a job with East Jefferson Hospital, she worked several years and then returned to Memphis and started work at the VA Hospital. She helped pioneer ambulatory surgery and create what is known today as "day surgery," a normal practice for many elective surgeries. She also served in the Army National Guard.
Never to quit her studies, she continued her education by completing and graduating from Memphis State University, Arkansas State University, and received her doctorate from Case Western University.
Susan will be greatly missed by her sister and brother and other family members.
Always the quiet joker, she loved her pets and had so many over the years that they can't all be named. She like to go to a bar and watch football (NOLA Saints) on the big screen and drink IPA beer with limes, and she always made sure to tip well. Many times the bartender saw her coming in and set her up with an IPA and limes slices or a good pinot noir with a good steak or lamb chop. If it was singing in chorus for Christmas shows or chair yoga, it was always followed by lunch with friends afterwards. Thanks to good friends like Donna Lee, Sandy Swett, Sandy Long, and Tracey Anderson. Sue was a happy lady.
A visitation for Susan will be held Monday, March 4 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38119. The funeral mass will occur Tuesday, March 5 at 10:30 AM, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 4851 Park Ave, Memphis, TN 38117. A committal service will immediately follow at Calvary Cemetery, 1663 Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis, TN 38106.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Doctors Without Borders.
