Susan Eleanor Jansen

Susan Eleanor Jansen, age 78, of Phoenix, Arizona passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. She is survived by her husband, Tony, her brother, Bob, her son, Trevor and her daughter in law, Sarah.

Sue was born Susan Eleanor Lazear to Robert Wells Lazear, Jr. and Blanche Eleanor Anderson Lazear on June 18, 1945 in Medellin, Colombia. Much of her early years were spent in various cities in Colombia as her parents were Presbyterian missionaries to Colombia. Every 5 years her family would travel back to the United States for a year, often spending those years in Cheyenne, Wyoming on the Wyoming Hereford Ranch where her grandfather was manager. She also spent time in Wheaton, Illinois while in grade school and Berkeley, California in her early high school years. She graduated in Bogota, Colombia from the Colegio Nueva Granada before following her brother Dan to Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington.

Growing up, Sue loved music, singing and playing the piano. She and her brothers often accompanied their parents to church functions where they all shared with the congregations of life in Colombia including Colombian music and dances.

Sue gave birth to her son, Trevor, in 1970 while living and working at Mt. Herman in the Santa Cruz Mountains with her first husband, Doug. Sue then spent several years in Southern California, including Santa Monica & San Diego, before eventually moving to Phoenix in 1982. In Phoenix, she lived a full and interesting life, where she was able to leverage her creative talents to start a successful arts and crafts small business. In Phoenix Sue also found her soul mate, Tony, whom she married in 1996. Sue and Tony were true kindred spirits as they shared a special connection and enjoyed many laugh filled, happy years together. She also immediately bonded with Tony’s daughter, Sarah, who was like a daughter to her.

Sue will be remembered for her quick wit, great sense of humor, a wonderful smile and an infectious personality. Sue had an uncanny ability to hit it off and truly connect with anyone she crossed paths with. For those of us that were lucky enough to have had Sue in our lives, she will be missed, but her spirit will continue to live on in all of us.