Susanna Seward Chatametikool

Susanna Seward Chatametikool, 88, of Lewiston, ME passed away peacefully on April 21, 2024. Susanna leaves behind her daughters Barbara and Malee, son Lee (Kant), six grandchildren Ian, Kitzia, Alex, Kirida, Lalyn and a soon-to-be born grandson, her sister Nancy, and niece Ayumi. She was predeceased by her parents Barbara and Robert Seward, her husband of 34 years Kiatipong, and more recently her beloved cat companion of 15 years Pounce.

Born in Lewiston, Maine, on May 28, 1935, she grew up with a deep love for her hometown. As a child she and her older sister Nancy were able to take full advantage of their neighborhood including the Bates College campus where their father was a professor and Mt. David where they took walks and skied. They enjoyed numerous pets, mostly cats and kittens, but especially their main dog, Jerry, who accompanied them on their wanderings.

She went away for college, studying Chemistry at Kalamazoo College in Michigan. After a few years of teaching high school science in the US, she lived in Japan for a year with her sister and brother-in-law. In 1967 she traveled to Thailand where she met and fell in love with Kiatipong Chatametikool whom she married later that year. Early in their marriage, they lived in Lewiston where their daughters were born. In 1971 they moved back to Thailand followed by a move to the Philippines in 1973 so that Kiatipong could pursue medical studies. It was in the Philippines where their son was born. In 1977 they moved back to Thailand permanently. In spite of not being fond of hot weather, she spent over 30 years in Asia. After her husband’s death in 2001, she moved back to her hometown of Lewiston, Maine, where she could enjoy the changing leaves in the fall and cooler temperatures.

In Thailand Susanna was an active member of Christ Church Bangkok, teaching Sunday School, participating in the Altar Guild and Bible study, and volunteering in outreach with Karen refugees, immigration prisoners, and orphans, among many other activities. Christ Church was a large part of her life in Bangkok. After she moved away, she kept in touch with her many friends from Christ Church and continued to attend services whenever she was back in Thailand to visit. Her last visit to Thailand and Christ Church was in 2017 when she returned to celebrate her son Lee’s wedding.

She was a present and involved parent. She was creative-- making Halloween costumes, making her kids' birthday party themes come to life with games, cakes and handmade goodie bags, and setting up clever Easter basket hunts with clues. She was a superb Girl Guide leader for her daughters, and later a Cub/Boy Scout leader for her son. She accompanied her children on field trips, to ballet class, horseback riding lessons, dance recitals, and sports competitions. Her brownies were much sought after at school bake sales. She was a voracious reader and made sure to supply her children with many books and magazines and weekly trips to the Neilson Hays Library in Bangkok. Later when grandchildren arrived, she did the same– sending them books and magazine subscriptions and cards for birthdays, Christmas, Easter, Halloween and Valentine’s Day.

She enjoyed teaching, science in particular. She started off teaching high school, but steadily moved down in age groups. In the Philippines she taught 7th and 8th grade science. In Thailand she worked with preschoolers who were probably her favorite age group.

When she moved back to Maine, she continued her hobbies as an avid reader, puzzle-solver and cross-stitcher. She enjoyed game shows, Jeopardy, in particular. She went for daily walks to drop off mail, pick up the newspaper and track her steps. She became an active member of St. Michael’s Episcopal Parish in Auburn, making things for craft fairs and participating in various church organizations. She kept in touch with many relatives and friends via letters and cards. She often sent articles of interest along with letters to her children.

She was a fairly quiet and serious person, but she lit up around small children, cats and dogs. It made her happy to see and spend time with her cat Pounce, her children, grandchildren, and sister. Being a New Englander, she had a dry sense of humor and wit, joking that Martial Law followed her wherever she moved in Southeast Asia. She was a generous and compassionate person, always willing to lend a helping hand to relatives and strangers alike. She was extremely proud to be from Lewiston and Maine, making sure to tell people that Maine was where the best blueberries and potatoes were from. After many years in Asia, she was happy to move back into her childhood home and town.

A celebration of Susanna’s life will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 on what would have been her 89th birthday. The service will be at 4:00 pm at St. Michael’s Episcopal Parish in Auburn, Maine. All are welcome. A reception will follow the service.

In honor of Susanna's memory, we encourage you to wear her favorite colors aqua & turquoise, watch a game show such as Jeopardy, adopt a cat, and/or donate to the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society or your local animal shelter.