Suzanne Francoise Jennings

Born Oct. 24, 1938, to Roger and Anita Charland in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Suzanne grew up in a loving home with her three sisters and brother. Just shy of her 16th birthday, she met Gordon Allan Jennings at a neighborhood party. It wasn’t long before the two knew they would be together forever. Gordon trained to become a Royal Canadian Air Force Flying Officer and she worked briefly as a secretary for the French Embassy in Montreal. They married May 16, 1959, and were off to start their life of a young military family in Germany where they welcomed their son and first daughter. They were later assigned to Alberta, Canada, where their second daughter was born.

After leaving the RCAF, he became a pilot for TWA. Suzanne and he started a new life in New Jersey where their third daughter was born. Together they traveled the world.

They moved to Gilford, NH, to enjoy a life in the lakes and mountains. She became involved in her church, Our Lady of the Lakes, teaching catechism, volunteering in the women’s guild, publishing the newsletter and serving as an extraordinary minister. She also could be found on the sidelines of her children’s many sporting events, in the audience of their many theatrical and musical performances and devoted to seeing them succeed academically.

When Gordon retired, they found joy with old and new friends in the Monte Vista community in Mesa. Suzanne was a devoted volunteer for the St. Vincent de Paul Society through her parish. After her beloved Gordie died in December 1996, she found the strength through her faith, her family and her friends to start another new life as a widow. She continued her volunteer work, traveled with friends and on her own, as well as to spend time with her children and grandchildren.

Just before the COVID pandemic took hold of the world, Suzanne moved to the Acoya Mesa community. Here she enjoyed serving as an ambassador to new community members, attending church gatherings, playing trivia, participating in book club and many other activities.

Those who know Suzanne will tell you she had a most endearing smile that was powered by an unbridled love for people – whether she just met them or had known them for years. She was loved as much as she loved back. She was generous in all ways, giving not only of her time, talents and treasures, but also of her heart, with a sincere kindness.

Besides her husband, Suzanne was preceded in death by her brother, Paul Charland. She is survived by her sisters, Elise Charland, Claire Waguespack and Josette Waldie, all of Quebec; her children, Patrick Jennings, of Vancouver, B.C., Canada; Louise Jennings and her husband, Gylton Da Matta, of Fort Collins, Colorado; Elyzabeth Marcussen and her husband, Kurt, of Pasadena, Maryland; and Kathleen Withey and her husband Robert, of Whistler, BC, Canada; and five grandchildren, Hendrix and Gretchen Marcussen, Erin and Finn Withey, and Alex Da Matta.

The family would like to thank a long list of Suzanne’s friends, the care team at Acoya Mesa, and Hospice of the Valley for her loving care throughout her illness. In lieu of flowers, people may make donations to St. Vincent de Paul Society, P.O. Box 13600, Phoenix, AZ 85002 or online at www.stvincentdepaul.net/give; or Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014 or online at www.hov.org/donate.

There will be A Celebration of Life, Friday, November 4, 2022 at 1:30p.m., Lifestyle Center at Acoya Mesa; 6502 E. Brown Road, Mesa, Arizona 85205. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in Suzanne's honor, Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 10:00a.m., All Saints Catholic Church; 1534 N. Recker Road, Mesa, Arizona 85205. She will be laid to rest alongside her beloved husband at a later date in Montreal.