Susan Jean Ridgway

To us she is Mum and Gram. To others she is Sue (there are other names not to be shared here 😊). To all of us she is an incredible selfless servant who endured much pain and suffering (mentally and physically). Mum is predeceased by our father and her husband David.

In her pain and suffering, she taught us what grit, persistence and resilience looks like; simply by living it. I would often tell Mum that the untold story within her would inspire, motivate and potentially be a vehicle to allow others to heal.

Mum has an insatiable hunger and love for her family. This same hunger was also demonstrated in her service to others at work and her personal life. Since her passing, we have received countless emails and private messages that all carry the same theme.

“Your mum was a person that we could go to with anything. We always felt safe with letting her into our lives. She taught us so much and was named a magnet at work. She embraced the new joiners, took them under her wing and wanted to ensure they felt safe and belonged”.

To me, leadership is the ability to influence others, nothing more and nothing less. Mum was a living example of a servant leader. Mum was so selfless in her service to others, that if she read this, she would call me and say, “Philip you’re nuts, I am not a leader”. We would then laugh and connect over this commonality between us.

This is most likely not a popular narrative, but I don’t miss her. I know, believe, and feel she is still within us all. Her legacy is within me and my family (Aissa, Sloane and Quinn), my brother Paul and his family (Kate, Jackson, Ruby and Asher), my cousins Lori, Trisha, Al, Rob, Tammy and Ryan, our Aunt Judy & Uncle Trevor, her work colleagues / friends and everyone else that she touched in some way.

I will miss the weekly zoom calls, WhatsApp’s, and calls but I know if I want to connect to her spirit, I can quiet my mind, be still and know she is always right there within us all.

I will always be grateful for the last 3 months. We all got to send last words to her and played one of her favourite songs. With the last moments of love we poured over her, she passed quietly, calmly, and peacefully knowing how much we love the woman that selflessly loves so many in return.

Enclosed is a 36 second clip that ‘found’ its way into my social media feed. Mum and I would often share these types of videos and positive quotes. I find it incredibly fitting to end this tribute with this clip.

“A mother is a son’s first true love. A son is a mother’s last true love”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3iNE77bP3c

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.JASnowFuneralHome.com for the RIDGWAY family.