Susan Elizabeth Brown died on Wednesday, January 2, 2019. She had fought endometrial cancer and its effects for ten years.
Susan was born in Red Bank, New Jersey. She grew up and went to school in Taylors, SC. She graduated from Eastside High School in Taylors in 1976. She attended the University of South Carolina, studying linguistics and philosophy. She graduated from Indiana University in 1997.
Susan taught swimming and water safety and coached synchronized swimming for many years with her mother Desi Brown at the YWCA in Greenville, SC.
In 1982 she traveled to Europe with her life partner, Bill Blue. In 1982/83 she was chef at a vegetarian restaurant in the Trastevere neighborhood in Rome, Italy. Bill was her sous-chef.
From 1987 until her death, Susan was a Unit Secretary in the Special Care Nursery at Indiana University Hospital and the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 2016 she received the Bill Barron Staff Award presented by the Graduating Pediatric House Staff of the Indiana University School of Medicine.
Susan also designed flowers and events for friends and clients through her two businesses Zorg and Frieda Billeter. Susan loved roses, her home, vegetable gardening, cooking, traveling, her dog Poppy and cat Fanny. She was a source of information and inspiration to her friends.
Susan is survived by her partner William A. Blue, Jr of Indianapolis; her mother Mercedes Leemann Brown of Taylors, SC; her brother Burns Brown of Rockport, TX; her nephew Michael Leemann Brown of Columbia, SC; Michael’s mother Jenny Fox Brown of Lexington, SC. Susan’s father Thomas R. Brown of Taylors died in 1997. Susan has extended family members in Indianapolis, California, Massachusetts, and South Carolina. Bill’s mother, three sisters, and brother are in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida. Susan was a member of their family, too.
Memorials are being planned in Indianapolis, IN and Greenville, SC. Details will be updated here.
Memorials for Susan can be made to:
Robin’s Nest of Indy – Pregnant Cat and Abandoned Animal Care Group (317) 691-1287 http://www.robinsnestofindy.org/donate.html
FACE Low-cost Animal Clinic 1505 Massachusetts Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46201 https://facespayneuter.org/donate/
Second Helpings, Inc. The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Center 1121 Southeastern Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46202 https://www.secondhelpings.org/donate/
This is a tremendous loss for everyone who knew and loved Susan – and she was loved by many. I will miss you forever. 💔
I know my sister will be missed not just by Billy, my Mother, Michael and myself but by her extended family that were so gracious and kind during this time. To know she had such wonderful friends an neighbors that have reached out us and will miss her like we do is very special. I thank all of you for being there.
Susan, you will always be in my heart.
I was Susan’s French teacher at Eastside High School and remember fondly the homemade breads she gave me at Christmas. In fact, I still have a basket she used in wrapping the bread! What a fantastic life she created for herself! May you find comfort in your memories of the wonder of that life. Steve Garrett