Passed away on the morning of February 22, 2024, in her 78th year. She was a 22 year survivor of lung cancer and journeyed to the end of her life with COPD.
Susan was mother to Cindy and Donna. Grandmother to Crista, Holly, Leah, Alexandra, Kate, and Geoff. Step-parent to Mike and Lori-Anne (Ed). Step-grandmother to Kurtis, Kayla-Anne and Faith. Predeceased by son-in-law Mark. Her final hours were spent peacefully at Hospice Wellington in Guelph where she received outstanding and compassionate care.
Susan (Sue) was born in Burlington, Ontario in 1946, daughter of Herbert Frederick and Margaret Grace Alton, and sister to John and Charlie. She grew up on the family farm at Appleby Line and Highway 5 and graduated from Nelson High School. Sue was married in 1965 at Nelson United Church in Burlington. She later re-married in 1982 at Hillside, Ontario to her beloved husband of 41 years, David Murray Gordon, who provided unwavering and devoted care throughout her illness.
Sue spent her life in Burlington, Huntsville, Allensville, Belwood and Guelph in Ontario. She was a driver and co-owner of Gordon Bus Lines for twenty years, touching the lives of many of her student riders. Sue loved nature and animals, spending many years throughout her life farming (raising chickens, pigs, cows and her favourite childhood goat names “Fleetfoot”). Upon her retirement, she and Dave spent many years wintering in Florida and enjoyed travelling within the US and Canada, making friends along their many journeys.
Sue was an avid craftswoman, gardener, writer/poet, accordion, autoharp, and piano player, often sharing her gifts to bring joy to others. While wintering in the south she regularly played the piano at the weekly campground church services. Many will have a poem or story, a plant or seeds from her garden, a knit or crocheted blanket, quilt or Christmas ornament, a pysanka egg, “box of blessings”, beadwork or seashell creation given to them by Sue. If it wasn’t a craft, it would be memories of sing-a-longs at the piano, a trip in her row boat, a game of cards, or a friendly chat or kind smile she left everyone with as she ran her errands in town. Sue was known for her warmth and generosity and her positive attitude.
Sue was a devout Christian and had a strong faith throughout her life, at times as a member of the United Church and also attending Elora Road Christian Fellowship. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
Sue believed in giving to others and was a regular contributor to a number of charities for many years. In this spirit of giving back, friends and family who would like to make a donation in Sue’s memory are asked to consider the wonderfully supportive home where she spent her final hours, Hospice Wellington in Guelph. Alternatively, Sue was a regular supporter of both the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
A private gathering for close family and friends will be held in the Spring.
Arrangements entrusted to WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL (519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com).
A tree will be planted in memory of Susan G. Gordon in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.