Susan Harmon, age 77, passed away unexpectedly on December 21. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bernard and Elizabeth Harmon; and her sister, Sharon Balcer. She is survived by her brothers, Richard (Lila), Donald (Nancy), Thomas (Teri); and sister, Mary Hormuth. She had 17 nieces and nephews, and 35 grand nieces and nephews.
Susie graduated from Catholic Central in 1963 and developed friendships she maintained forever. She always enjoyed contact with her friends, be it a brief (well, Susie’s idea of brief) chat on the phone, lunch, dinner, or a day trip. These friends were also very supportive of her during brief periods of illness in recent years.
She then went on to graduate from Holy Cross School of Nursing and for the majority of her career was a public health nurse for Kent County.
She loved her job and the people she worked with and was able to find humor in the everyday trials and tribulations of the workplace.
Susie loved to shop, especially for others. Partly because of her great love of gift giving, Susie greatly enjoyed Christmas. To visit her house at Christmas time was to feel like one stepped into a Hallmark movie. It is especially sad for those she left behind that she died at this most joyous time of year.
There were many different sides to Susie: trips to Notre Dame football games provided excitement (and/or depression) and was just one of the many wonderful things she did with her mother: the casino trips with her sister, Sharon to Gun Lake provided her with some low stakes fun at the slot machine: assisting with St. Paul’s funeral lunches demonstrated just a small part of her caring for others and (also on occasion provided her with leftovers that were slid out the back door).
Above all else Susie was about faith and family. The Catholic church and particularly St. Paul’s Parish were very important to her.
She never had a family of her own, but she was very much a cherished member of her siblings’ families and their children’s families. She will be greatly missed by all of them.
Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church on Wednesday, December 28 at 10:00 am preceded by visitation at 9:00 am. Visitation will also be held at O’Brien Gerst Funeral Care, 3980 Cascade Rd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 on Tuesday, December 27 from 5-7pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul the Apostle Education Fund, 2750 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546.
5 Responses
So sorry for your loss Don and Nancy. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen
My long time friend and travel buddy, former Ramblewood roommate.
I will miss you.
Sue Z
Harmons, I’m so sorry. What an amazing lady. Sue had the kindest heart with the warmest smile. She always asked about family, and took time to chat whenever you would run into her. She will be missed! ❤️
It was with great sadness on the passing of the beloved “Aunt Susie”a wonderful and kind hearted person. I first met “Aunt Susie” aged 11 when I came to the USA from Ireland and then met up again in Ireland when she came to visit in later years. To Mary and the Hormuth family “Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam” (May her soul be seated on God’s right hand). May the light of heaven shine on her gentle soul and may the angels lead her into paradise to rest in the arms of the lord. May she rest in peace.
Paul McLoughlin
Belfast
Ireland
My sincere condolences to Don, Nancy and family. I met Sue through my friend Sue Zuchowski. I will always remember Sue for her great sense of humor, her nursing expertise, her welcoming demeanor, and just plain fun to be around. Her presence left the world a better place.