Susan Goodman

Susan Goodman passed away peacefully at her home in Raleigh on June 24, 2023. She was born in Houston Texas, a joy to her parents Tommy and Barbara Thomason and older brother Allen, whom she adored. Susan had a happy childhood until she was struck by polio in the early 1950s which stopped her childhood dream of becoming a dancing ballerina. Fortunately, extensive rehabilitation and therapy allowed her to become an active and vibrant teenager. She was active in her church choir, sang in their musicals and played in their hand bell ensemble, all while attending Bellaire High School. While attending Texas Tech University she met and married her husband John Goodman. They welcomed their daughter Wendy to their new home in Dallas and went on to live a long and joyous life together. They lived in the Dallas area, then moved to Raleigh NC and Pittsburgh PA, returning to Raleigh in 1989. There she helped plan Wendy’s wedding to Dan Jakobovits and an epic reception afterwards. Later, she welcomed with loving arms her new granddaughter Katie.

In her early years she used her degree and taught elementary and junior high school. Thereafter she was active in her church and volunteered her services where she could, serving on the board of the Raleigh WMCA and president of the AAUW chapter in Murrysville, PA, among many others. She and John had a lifelong love of travel and music of all sorts, which they indulged in as often as possible from college onward. Still, Susan said she was never happier than when she was in the company of family and good friends, which she made everywhere she went. She also nurtured a lifelong love of Bridge and played often until Covid and her growing infirmities made her stop. She will always be remembered for her smiling face and infectious laugh. Susan was a precious gift to all who knew her and she will forever remain in our hearts.

A Celebration of Life Service for Susan Goodman will be held at 2 PM on Saturday July 8, 2023 at Mitchell Funeral Home, 7209 Glenwood Ave. in Raleigh NC. The family will receive friends at gathering afterwards at Mitchell.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Susan’s memory may be made to the Post-Polio Foundation.

www.post-polio.org/support-us/donate/

If you would like to leave a favorite memory/story of Susan, or a message of condolence for her family, you may do so below, within 'Add a Memory'.