Susan Elizabeth Bell

Susan Elizabeth Bell (Lundquist) passed away February 8, 2022 while being held by her devoted children and loving husband Stephen Bell. She was 65. Her life began in New Westminster, born to Sven and Elsa Lundquist (Nyvall), both immigrants from post-war Finland who moved to Canada to seek a better life for their family. Susan, known to most as "Susie," was the youngest of 5 children – sisters Alice, Gundbritt, Marianne and brother Gary. Her cousins Nancy and Theresa also lived in the home and were very much like sisters to Susie during her childhood. A life lived with enormous empathy, love, friendship, and humour – Susie was a kind and caring person, having a profound impact on the lives she touched.

Very early in her life, Susie met the young boy who would later become her husband. Steve was a close friend of her brother. On Valentine's Day 1970, Steve took Susie on their first date (yes, Susie was 13 but her mother, Elsa gave the okay). At the start of Grade 12, Steve, trying to lock it down, gave Susie a promise ring. Sven and Elsa were supportive on the sole condition that Susie finish high school. They were married in June 1974, less than a week after Susan's final high school classes concluded. With her Centennial School diploma and husband in hand, Susie skipped the graduation ceremony, opting instead to honeymoon in Finland and Sweden to meet extended family.

Susie had 48 wonderful years of marriage to Steve, raising 2 sons. When asked about the success of their marriage, Susie and Steve would tell people they were best friends before lovers, there were no lies or regrets and they shared total trust in one another. Their life together took them across BC, having lived in Smithers, Dawson Creek, Prince Rupert, Coquitlam and Vernon before settling permanently in Kamloops to raise a family. Susie valued the life long memories and friends in each corner of the Province.

The family home was filled with humour, love and good food. Susie and Steve loved travelling together across Canada and the USA, vacationing with friends Bob & Mary Hinds, being hosted in Mexico by 50-year friends Lori & Brenda Muirhead, and spending lazy summers at Shuswap Lake where Susie would float for hours or swim, seemingly immune to the duck itch which is common to the area.

While still in high school, Susie excelled in office administration, which became her chosen profession. Her first job was as a receptionist/switchboard operator for the School Board office in Dawson Creek. Soon after, she began at the BC Land Titles & Survey Authority, where she will be remembered as 'susieb.' Susie started her career early and was able to take a five year family leave to raise her children. She immensely valued this time spent with her two toddlers. Susie derived much enjoyment from the work as a dedicated public servant and the many friendships she built over her career. Her colleagues, she said, "kept me laughing." Susie retired in 2015 after 35 years of near perfect attendance.

In retirement, Susie pursued her passions for music and language. Susie was an active member of the Desert Sounds A Cappela group, successfully competing against other choral groups from across western Canada. She dedicated herself to learning Spanish to support vacationing in Mexico. Susie also sought to learn Swedish. While she never quite mastered her ancestral language, Susie did become a master baker of Swedish Bulla bread, to the benefit of her children, siblings, nieces, nephews and special friends.

At age 19, Susie became involved in auto sports. Susie had a strong interest in autocross, becoming a competitive driver racing Chevrolet Corvettes at events. With Steve always at her side, Susie continued her involvement in automobiles as a hobby, supporting many events as long time members of the Vintage Car Club of Canada (VCCC) and Camaro Club of Western Canada, where they made close friends with Ron and Robin Verch. Most recently, they enjoyed attending events and 'cruising' in their 1966 Chevrolet Corvair convertible acquired for her retirement. Marlene Beddie, a fellow VCCC member, provided invaluable support and guidance to both Steve and Susie over the last 15 months.

She was predeceased by her parents Sven (1979) & Elsa (1996) and her very special brother in-law Greg Dalton (2020).

With grace, Susie stoically and without complaint faced difficult health challenges in the last two years of her life. She is now at peace. Susie is survived by her husband Stephen, children Wesley (Ally) and Jordan (Natasha), and granddaughter Harper. She is also survived by her supportive siblings, a large and loving extended family that includes many nephews and nieces, and notably her beloved Aunt Birgit who was like a second mother to Susie.

An announcement about a Celebration of Life will be made at a later date, once travel conditions and Covid restrictions permit a gathering to take place.

The family would like to extend its sincere thanks for the support of family and friends during the course of Susie's illness and caring words so generously shared since Susie's passing. The family would also like to extend their gratitude to the care team at the Kamloops Cancer Clinic, including Dr. Pwint, as well as the nursing staff of 5 South and Dr. Kerbarle at Royal Inland Hospital for their care and compassion.

Donations to honour Susie's memory can be made to the Kamloops Hospice Foundation or the BC Cancer Foundation. The family will request that any donation made in her name be directed to advancing research and treatment on Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer.

Susie would never hesitate to tell those she cared for how much she loved them. In lieu of flowers, please hug someone you love and tell them how special they are to you - that's what Susie would want.