Suzanne Connor

Suzanne Lynn Connor was born June 27, 1947 in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the beginning of the baby boom era that followed WWII. She and her older siblings grew up on Franklin Street SE under the care of loving parents, Frank William and Mildred Louise (Claflin) Connor, and were supported by their father’s job at the Grand Rapids Press. Suzanne formed a close bond with her sister Patricia and brother Frank as well as with her cousins. Throughout her life, family played a significant role in shaping Suzanne as the caring and compassionate person she was.

Suzanne was an athletic child, taking dance classes for eight years and playing softball in high school. Her schooling began at Alexander Elementary and then Marywood Academy Immaculate Heart of Mary Elementary. After graduating from Catholic Central High School in 1965, Suzanne took business classes at Davenport College to learn accounting.

Entering the work force, Suzanne’s first job was at Ganto's, a women’s clothing store in downtown Grand Rapids. She also worked at K-mart, Crab Floral downtown and later as an accountant with Foremost Insurance and with Seidman Accounting Firm. Though she dealt with numbers in her job, Suzanne had a sense for fashion and design, which was evident in her knitting and embroidery skills. Taking classes on the craft, Suzanne showed particular talent in embroidering many amazing sweatshirts.

At a time when Suzanne was preparing for motherhood, she was grieved by the stillborn birth of her son Aaron. Her sorrow was deep yet her love of family was stronger still. As her parents grew older, Suzanne moved back home to care for them. In the 1980s she went to live with her sister Patricia to help her, and from June 1999 to the present she helped to raise her niece Alicia. Suzanne was just the person to teach her how to be a proper lady.

At the same time that she was attending to others, Suzanne was dealing with her own health issues. She suffered from hernias and severe ulcers for which she underwent experimental surgery. She had a stint inserted into her heart after experiencing a heart attack 12 years prior to 2015. On January 15th of that year, another heart attack put Suzanne in hospital at Spectrum Health. She was moved to the Meijer Heart Center, where a loving and dedicated staff did all they could for Suzanne. It was there on Saturday morning, January 17, 2015, that she died with her family at her side.

Selfless and compassionate, Suzanne put the needs of others above her own. She was devoted to her family and loyal beyond words. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by everyone who knew her.

Suzanne Lynn Connor, aged 67 of Kentwood, Michigan was preceded in death by her son, Aaron Michael Connor and parents, Frank and Mildred Connor. She is survived by her sister, Patricia Connor; niece, Alicia DeKok, her nephews, Billy Connor, Chad (Nicole) Connor; niece. Bridgett (Dave) Russell; great nieces, Morgan Russell and Sammy Connor; great nephews, Logan Russell and Huntley Connor; other cousins and many friends. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday morning at 11:00 AM at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 1253 52nd St. Kentwood, MI. Burial in Woodlawn Cemetery. Friends and relatives may meet her family at the church from on Friday from 10:00 AM until the Mass begins at 11:00 AM. To read more about Suzanne's life, to sign her guest book and to leave your own memory of her, visit her web page at www.lifestorynet.com.