Susan Ford Wiese January 27, 1944 January 8, 2018 Susie was born in Washington, DC on January 27th, 1944 to Mary Crowley and Edgar Martin Ford, the fourth of five children, and spent her early life in Bethesda Chevy Chase, Maryland. Susie was active with the CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) and served as Archidiocesan Cultural Chair for all parish CYO activities, organizing and supervising one-act plays and talent contests. She graduated from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, attended Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, and the University of Maryland, earning a degree in Early Childhood Education. She taught elementary school in Montgomery County, Maryland. Susie married Michael Wiese on December 28, 1965, and moved with him and her growing family to the Pacific Northwest in 1973, where Michael was Chief of Neurosurgery at Madigan General until 1977 and in private practice in Tacoma thereafter. They lived on Steilacoom Lake for 28 years and together raised seven children. Susie was actively involved with school, community, and parish activities, and teaching creative drama to children. Susie founded Susan Ford & Co. with shops in Lakewood. She was a vendor for 10 years at Victorian Country Christmas, selling European imports such as nutcrackers, ornaments, and antiques. With an expansive knowledge and love of all things Christmas, Susie "Mother Christmas" hosted popular signings and receptions for visiting artists at holiday times. Susie and Mike moved to the Town of Steilacoom on retirement in 2005. After treatment for breast cancer, stage 3, in 2005, Susie gathered a support group the Poker Divas which meets for sustenance, laughter, and fun twice monthly. Susie also discovered Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging), joined a Bunco group, and continued to travel. She called these past 12 years her "bonus years," adding 2 daughters-in-law, 3 sons-in-law, and 10 grandchildren. There was lots of laughter, love, and living those extra years. In January of 2016, Susie and Mike celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, and after a year of planning embarked on a 120-day round-the-world cruise on the Queen Mary 2 the trip of a lifetime. Susie was a woman of great humor, love, commitment, and loyalty. She opened her arms and embraced life to the fullest, welcoming all into her home and into her life. She will be remembered as a woman of great style, a gifted writer, a witty and infectious raconteur in the style of her idol Erma Bombeck, an exquisite and generous entertainer, a loving and supportive mother, a beautiful and talented wife, a creative business owner, a generous and loyal friend, a devout and dedicated Catholic, and a gift to all who knew her. Susie passed away of complications from breast cancer. She leaves behind her husband, Mike Wiese, her 7 children, Erik Wiese (Barbara), Katryn Wiese, Anna Kirsten Monfils (Mike), Ingrid Wiese Hesson (Gabe), Maiken Lozano-Wiese (Paco), Josef Hans Wiese (Jennifer), and Georg Kristofer Wiese (Renee), 16 grandchildren, her brothers and sisters Kathleen Ford Victorson, John Charles Ford, and Barbara Ford Dove, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. (Her brother Michael predeceased her.) A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated February 2, 2018 at 10:30 am at St. John Bosco Church in Lakewood, with a reception to follow in the church. In lieu of flowers, do something special with your family tonight. Raise a glass and toast this treasured friend to so many. Share a good "Susie" story.

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Published by News Tribune (Tacoma) on Jan. 21, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for SUSAN WIESE

5 Entries

Jrean Rossi

February 7, 2018

My deepest sympathy for your loss. She was such a giving and loving woman. I remember her lovely comments when Ernie died. No matter how many years have passed we know we had a special legacy from our grandparents. I will continue praying for her and all of your family.

Mary Morris

January 31, 2018

My deepest sympathy to the family. As a high school friend of Susie's children, I have fond memories of going to Christmas parties at the home on the lake and swimming in the summer. I remember her as a warm and welcoming lady.

John OConnor

January 25, 2018

To the Fords and Wieses
My heart goes out to you all during this very difficult time. My memories of Sue go back to elementary school at Our Lady of Lourdes when I sat in 2nd and 3rd-grade class with her. (I believe I'm right herebut there were at least another 70-80 students in the same room at the time.) Later, in middle school I attended CYO meetings held in the school basement on Sundays where Sue was very much involved in theatre and the annual One Act Play competition. Would that I had just an iota of her theatrical ability.
Fast forward several decades and I next ran into Sue when she was living on Steilacoom Lake and firstif I recall correctly, Charlie came out to visit and I drove down from Seattle for a mini-reunion. A second grand get-together was when Mary came out to visit and, once again, it was a great Northwest reunion for me, and, Sue as always was the consummate hostess.
With all my prayers and sympathies
John O'Connor

Michelle Bligh

January 25, 2018

I'd like to offer my condolences to Susie's family and friends. Susie was my late mother's cousin. Mom loved her dearly.

Clare Coulter

January 24, 2018

My sympathies on your loss to the Wiese and the Ford families. I remember shared lunches with mutual friend Eileen and numerous small children back in the early Seventies.
Clare O'Connor Coulter

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