Obituary of Susan J. Walsh

Susan, 64, died peacefully in her sleep on the morning of April 19^th, 2023, at Sherwood Oak Post Acute, Thousand Oaks, CA, after a long and protracted illness.

She is predeceased by her mother, Joan Melchiskey; father, Kenneth Walsh; and brother, Fr. Kenneth W. Walsh. She is survived by her brother, Stephen, and his family. Following cremation, internment will be alongside her brother, Kenneth, in Ortonville Cemetery, Ortonville, MI.

It is with a profound sense of sadness and solace that I bid this final farewell to my little sister, Susie. She was born August 19^th, 1958, in Knoxville, TN. She graduated from St. Peter’s High School and Douglass College in New Brunswick, NJ, and went on to earn a master’s degree in social work from St. Bonaventure University in Olean, NY. Her interests and passions ranged from writing to math, and music to the many cats and dogs she owned over the years. She authored a book of poetry and enjoyed playing the piano, ukulele, and singing.

Among many memories, I will remember playing games with her and Kenny when we were little kids and watching the Saturday morning cartoons of our day – her favorite was Yogi Bear, and Kenny and I nicknamed her Boo-Boo after Yogi’s cute little sidekick friend. That said, what I will remember most is her tenacious 45+ year fight with mental illness. While she certainly never won all the battles – and there were many – against this ferocious and relentless disease, she fought it to the end. For this I am proud.

If you have a friend or loved one who suffers from any form of mental illness, please consider donating to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), or to Calvary Community Church of Westlake Village, CA; the church was an important part of her life and provided much needed care and loving support to her.

Rest in peace, Boo-Boo, rest in a well-deserved peace.

Love, Stevie