Susan Bernstein Traeger passed away surrounded by family on the evening of July 4, 2021, at the age of 82. Born on January 24, 1939, in Brooklyn, NY, Susan grew up the cherished daughter of Arthur and Muriel Bernstein. With fond memories of PS 241, playing stoopball, frequenting Broadway shows, and graduating from Midwood High School in 1956, she went on to attend Brooklyn College at night while working as a legal secretary during the day. Her office skills took Susan to London, England in 1962 as part of a new international employment exchange program, where she spent 3 summers working and making life-long friends. She later used her education degree to teach 5th grade in Bed/Stuy, NY, and 1st grade at Perrine Elementary in Miami, FL.
After years of visiting family in Miami, in 1965 Susan moved to South Florida where her cousins warmly welcomed her - and even helped facilitate the blind date where she met her beloved husband, Miami native and son of Joseph and Gladys Traeger, Bertram A. Traeger. Bert proposed to her in his plane over Biscayne Bay, and for 54 years, they celebrated life together with family and friends. She was a devoted mother to daughters Claire Traeger and Eileen (Traeger) Bilchik and was active in all aspects of her daughters' lives from helping them learn to swim to acting as President of their elementary school PTA. Susan and Bert enjoyed traveling with the family, and when Claire later lived in NYC, Susan took any excuse for a road trip to visit. In 1997 Eileen married Warren Bilchik, who Susan immediately adored. And shortly thereafter Susan was introduced to two of the biggest joys of her life, her grandchildren Mia and Eli Bilchik. From the moment they were born she became their most dedicated cheerleader. There aren’t enough words to describe how much Susan loved not only her immediate but her extended Bernstein, Brenner, Traeger, and Bilchik family.
Always generous and kind-hearted by nature, Susan could also be strong-willed, which served her well, through breast cancer in 2018, and later a Parkinson's Disease diagnosis which she handled with grace. Susan is survived by her husband, daughters, and grandchildren mentioned above, along with many other close family members and friends. A small graveside service will be held Thursday morning, July 8th, and the family will be sitting shiva on Thursday and Friday from noon until sundown at Susan and Bert’s home. Contributions to honor Susan can be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation or to any charity of choice.
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