Susan Louise Vandermeer

Susan Louise Vandermeer, beloved sister and sister-inlaw; awesome aunt, great-aunt, and cousin; kind and faithful friend, co-worker, and neighbor, passed away peacefully at home on the afternoon of March 10, 2023. She was surrounded by her family, who were holding her hands and sharing "Susie memories".

Susan was born in Everett, Washington, on April 17, 1955, to Fred and Louise Vandermeer. As a child she grew up with two brothers, Steven and Cy, while her father worked as a teacher. When Susan was two years old the family moved to Southern California, and in 1963 they moved to Felton, near Santa Cruz. She graduated from San Lorenzo Valley High School in 1973 and attended Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz, where she sang with the Chamber Singers and met dear lifelong friends David LoVine and Bobbi Mitchell. Susan had a beautiful and confident Alto voice. She later also attended Modesto Junior College and College of the Redwoods.

Over the years Susan (who was an absolute foodie!) worked in restaurants; in a hardware store in Utah, where she was a purchasing agent; at Orchard Supply Hardware in Modesto, where she was a supervisor and assistant manager; at a bank in Modesto, where she was an assistant to the Vice President; and in the Humboldt County District Attorney’s office, where she worked as a Legal Office Assistant and Community Services Officer from February, 2005, until her retirement on May 22, 2020.

Susan formed many deep and lasting friendships during her years in Humboldt County. As a member of the legal community, she was a longtime member of the Humboldt County Legal Professionals Association, maintaining her membership after her retirement. She had a love of music and enjoyed going to concerts and theater events with friends, and learned how to play the dulcimer during her retirement. Susan was an excellent cook, and there are many of us who remember the wonderful spiced nuts and toffee she made at Christmas time. Susan also was a 33skilled quilter and received a ribbon for one of her quilts in a show.

She loved scrapbooking. As the family historian, Susan was the keeper of the records and photographs, and she was the one who kept in communication with her extended family. Susan got together often with her Vandermeer cousins and attended several reunions. After she fell ill, Susan prepared several folders and boxes of mementos and photos for her nieces and nephews in anticipation of her passing.

Susan is survived by her brother Cy Vandermeer and his wife Julie of Dallas, Oregon; sister-in-law Liz Vandermeer of McKinleyville; niece Katie Baker and her husband David of Washougal, Washington; niece Abby McCourt and her husband Tyler of Dallas, Oregon; nephew Jim Vandermeer and his wife Annie of Woodland Park, Colorado; nephews Aaron Vandermeer of McKinleyville and Cy Vandermeer and his wife Laura of Arcata; and 17 great-nieces and great-nephews, in addition to numerous cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Steve. A private family service will be held at a later date.