Susan E. Walrabenstein passed away peacefully on January 17, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. She was born on May 15, 1950 in Waukesha, Wisconsin to Arthur and Betty (Steffen) Walrabenstein. She graduated from Waukesha High School in 1968 and from Lakeland College in 1972. She taught music for several years before earning her master's degree in media arts from UW-Lacrosse.
Susan worked at the National Gallery of Art for several years, then moved to San Diego where she earned a paralegal degree. She moved back to Washington, DC to work at a law firm where she met her husband, Michael Colella. She attended a cooking school and she and Michael opened a restaurant in Virginia. After that, they moved to Healdsburg, California. She was married to Michael for ten years. Susan opened a successful gourmet cheese store, sold it, and moved to Portland, Oregon where she managed the cheese department of a gourmet grocery store chain for several years. In retirement, she enjoyed living in different places, moving in 2017 to Greenville, South Carolina, a few years later to Santa Rosa, California, and then back to Portland. She loved cooking, gardening, and animals, especially dogs and chickens.
Susan was preceded in death by both her parents. She is survived by a sister, Donna Danielson; an aunt, Edna Walls; and many cousins. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
Susan worked at the National Gallery of Art for several years, then moved to San Diego where she earned a paralegal degree. She moved back to Washington, DC to work at a law firm where she met her husband, Michael Colella. She attended a cooking school and she and Michael opened a restaurant in Virginia. After that, they moved to Healdsburg, California. She was married to Michael for ten years. Susan opened a successful gourmet cheese store, sold it, and moved to Portland, Oregon where she managed the cheese department of a gourmet grocery store chain for several years. In retirement, she enjoyed living in different places, moving in 2017 to Greenville, South Carolina, a few years later to Santa Rosa, California, and then back to Portland. She loved cooking, gardening, and animals, especially dogs and chickens.
Susan was preceded in death by both her parents. She is survived by a sister, Donna Danielson; an aunt, Edna Walls; and many cousins. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
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