Susan Jill Costakos-Slomka

Susan Jill Costakos-Slomka, 44, of Riverlea, passed away Thursday, March 11, 2010, surrounded by her loving family at Zusman Community Hospice, after a courageous struggle with ovarian cancer. Susan was born July 4, 1965 in Columbus, Ohio. She graduated from Upper Arlington High School, then joined the Army and became a Chinese linguist, stationed in Hawaii for eight years. She graduated from Hawaii Pacific University with a degree in Accounting, returned to Columbus in 1998 and worked for National Church Residences. In 2006 Susan began studying Chinese at OSU. She spent the summer of 2007 studying in China, and then was accepted into the OSU’s Chinese Flagship Master’s Program. She loved the Chinese language, art, and culture. She also loved helping others, serving on several Worthington and Riverlea community committees. She was a graduate of the Leadership Worthington Class of 2004. Other favorite interests included alternative music, OSU football, singing karaoke, walking her dog by the river, and most of all, her family and friends. Survived by her loving son, Connor, Naval Station Great Lakes, IL; parents: father Chuck Costakos and stepmother Sandy Costakos, Columbus; mother Karen (Lockhart) Marshall and stepfather George Marshall, Norfolk, VA; grandfather Nick Costakos (age 94) of Mayfield Village, OH; brother Jeff Costakos (Debbie) and their daughters Lindsey and Paige, River Hills, WI; brother Dave Costakos (fiancée Dana Kahn), San Diego, CA, and his mother Ruth Costakos, Upper Arlington; sister Sarah Marshall Surratt (Josh) and their son Jonah, Tucson, AZ; sister Johanna Marshall Winter (Anthony) and their daughters Lily and Maya, Lemoore, CA; stepbrothers Rodney Ferryman, Columbus, and Kevin Ferryman, Bay Shore, NY; as well as many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. We thank the staff at Zusman Community Hospice for the care and support they provided to Susan and her family during her last hours, and the staff at the James Cancer Hospital for her care these past 2½ years. A Memorial Service to honor Susan’s life will be held 3:00pm Saturday, April 10, at the SCHOEDINGER WORTHINGTON CHAPEL, 6699 N High St, Worthington, OH 43085; with pastor Phyllis Fetzer officiating.. Friends and family will be received at the funeral home 1 hour prior to the service. Contributions in her memory may be made to Zusman Community Hospice, 1151 College Ave, Columbus, OH 43209 or the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, 14 Pennsylvania Plaza, Suite 1400, New York, NY 10122. Visit www.Schoedinger.com to send condolences.