March 25, 1957 - November 15, 2023
"Once in a while someone very special comes along and makes the world a lot more wonderful"
It is with extreme sorrow we announce the sudden passing of our sweet Susie.
Susie was predeceased by her parents Roy and Norah Smith and her youngest sister Shelley.
She leaves to mourn her siblings: Helen, Roy and beloved nephews Ian and Graham, a large extended family along with many good friends.
Susie was born deaf, at a very young age she left Atlin, B.C. and travelled to Vancouver to attend the Jericho Hill School for the Deaf and Blind. She graduated and returned north to live in Whitehorse but a lack of American Sign Language services in the Yukon made it difficult for her to stay so she moved on to Winnipeg MB to attend the Red River College for the Deaf where she stayed for 25 years living and working.
In 2011 she returned to Whitehorse and this time she was able to stay as the Deaf Community had been able to secure ASL interpreter services.
Susie was hired by the Yukon Territorial Government into a clerk position and worked in variety of departments, a job she loved. She was proud and grateful to be given this opportunity, she spoke highly of all her co-workers, she looked forward to going to work everyday."
She was presented the Service Excellence Award by the Public Service Commissioner.
Susie was elected to be the Yukon representative for the Deaf Grassroots Movement, an organization advocating and promoting accessibility and barrier free services for all deaf people. She taught sign language to young folks with hearing impairments when the need arose. She never allowed her hearing challenges to interfere with what she wanted to accomplish.
Susie kept lifelong friendships from near and far, was well loved, and cherished. She is so dearly missed by us all and leaves a big hole in our hearts.
May her bright light and sweet smile shine on.
Celebration of her Life will be held in late spring/early summer. Details to follow.