Known for her singing in grade school, “Singing Susie” roamed from class to class accompanied by the music teacher, a violinist. Her sister, meanwhile, would slide under her desk in embarrassment. After enduring Nazi occupation, World War II bombings, and the Greek Civil War, Susie worked on ships shuttling war refugees from Greece to Australia — six trips! — helping them en route to prepare for their new lives. The fresh air, decent food, and Susie in charge combined to make those journeys one of the high points in Susie’s life, and she returned to those memories often in her last years.
When she arrived in the US in 1956, Susie majored in biology, graduating from Willamette University. She became a phlebotomist, then a restaurateur, then a farmer, selling lettuce at the Beaverton Farmers Market with her husband, George, whom she married in 1960.
The big surprise came after George passed three years ago. Susie returned to her childhood love of music by revealing her hidden cabaret-singer talents. She taught her daughters many, many Greek pop songs from the 1930s. And with her daughters accompanying her on the piano, she’d belt them out in a rich alto voice, in perfect tune, sometimes while folding clothes, walking outdoors, and whenever else she felt like singing, which was often.
Susie loved flowers, outings, animals, her family and her caregivers. For Susie, “Everyday is a good day!” — she would say it all the time. “It’s all luck” was another favorite phrase, acknowledging the hand life dealt her and seeing the bright side.
Susie lived in her house until the end. She graduated to her next adventure on May 17, 2025. She is survived by her sister, three children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial Services to be held at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Tuesday, May 27th at 7pm and on Wednesday, May 28th at 10am.
