Sue Ellen Banko

Sue Ellen was born on April 2, 1965, in Norwood, Massachusetts, to the late John and Faith Ove. She attended East Carolina University and North Carolina State University before completing her bachelor's degree at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. After college, she returned to North Carolina, where she earned her real estate license and went on to build a successful 30-year career in new home sales.

Sue was a devout Catholic who loved God and Jesus more than anything, and her faith was a huge part of who she was. She always found happiness in things like the beach, flowers, a good cup of coffee, sunrises and sunsets, and the sound of rain. She had a heart for helping others and always loved volunteering for causes close to her heart. Sue Ellen cherished the relationships she had with her friends and family, and they meant the absolute world to her. She loved music, especially playing the piano, enjoyed watching rom-coms, and found great peace through yoga.

More than anything, Sue Ellen adored being a mother. Jordan was the center of her world. They shared an especially close bond and had a relationship where they could talk about anything. She was always there to offer advice and help whenever she could. She loved watching him live life.

Even through her own hardships, Sue Ellen never lost her positive spirit or her faith in God. Even on the hardest of days, she always found a way to smile and she lit up whenever she was with the friends and family she loved. Her strength was nothing short of remarkable, and she leaves behind a legacy as a true light in this world, one who will be dearly missed.

Sue is survived by her son, Jordan, of Raleigh, North Carolina; her brothers, John Michael Ove, of Austin, Texas, and Christopher Paul Ove, of Apex, North Carolina; and her aunt and uncle, Anne and Alan D’Agostino, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Faith Ove.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at St Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, 12333 Bayleaf Church Road, Raleigh, NC 27614. Burial will follow in Raleigh Memorial Park.

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