Susan Rose "Sumati" Goldberg

1945 - 2022

Susan Rose "Sumati" Goldberg

Susan Rose "Sumati" Goldberg, 77, of Floyd, Virginia, passed peacefully into the next world on Monday June 13, 2022.

She was born on February 18, 1945, in Brooklyn, N.Y. She lived at home throughout her courageous decade-long struggle with Parkinson's disease, and spent her last days surrounded by the love and blessings of family, close friends, and her favorite sacred music.

Sumati is now reunited in the next world with her father, Joseph Goldberg; her mother, Vita Jaffe; her spirit mother, Pearletha Hugee; a favorite aunt, Miriam Goldberg, other ancestors; and beloved Floyd friends, Laurelsong Cook, Pat Price, Alwyn Moss, and Dick Giessler.

She is survived by her husband, Mark Schonbeck; her son, Elijah Morrison; her brother, Steven Goldberg and wife, Susan Schober; her sister, Lucy Ann Goldberg; her nephew, Joseph Castellanos, and countless friends in Floyd and beyond who will cherish her memory for years to come.

A lifelong advocate for planetary healing, world peace, and understanding among those following different spiritual paths, Sumati taught Yoga, participated in sacred ceremonies from Hindu and other traditions, and strove to live lightly and harmoniously on the Earth. During her 33 years in Floyd, she tended a homestead garden, milked cows by hand, preserved home-grown food for the winter, and always supported Mark in his consulting and advocacy work for organic and regenerative agriculture.

Sumati was laid to rest in a natural home burial ceremony led by Floyd wise-woman Katherine Chantal with the loving participation of her closest family, friends, caregivers, and community mates. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the International Campaign for Tibet at https://savetibet.org, the Sunflower of Peace Foundation that provides humanitarian support for Ukraine at https://sunflowerofpeace.com, or 350.org working to end the climate crisis and build an equitable, renewable energy future at https://350.org.