Susan Benedict Colella

Susan Benedict Colella, born Madelyn Susan Steinberg on December 19, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois, passed away on October 13, 2025, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Susan graduated from Senn High School in Chicago and pursued several years of college locally. She developed strong administrative skills that supported her throughout her early adult life. She thoroughly enjoyed playing cards and Mahjong well into her later years, and had deep love for cats, which also led to volunteering at the Arizona Humane Society.

She married Harry Mann at a young age, and together they had two children, Lori and Jeff. Her children and four grandchildren—Tom, Katherine, Bebe, and Nathan—were the pride and joy of her life. Later in life, Susan married Jon Benedict. Their ten-year marriage was filled with happiness until Jon’s untimely passing from cancer. In time, she found love again with Tony Colella, whom she later married and remained with until his death in 2021.

In her final years, Susan faced health challenges but found strength and comfort in the presence of her family. The last five months of her life were spent at home under the attentive care of Carmen, whose compassion brought great peace to Susan and her loved ones.

Susan was predeceased by her parents, Nathan and Minnie Steinberg, her brother Arnold, her son-in-law Paul Katsenes, as well as her husbands Jon Benedict and Tony Colella. She is survived by her daughter Lori, son Jeff, and grandchildren Tom and Katherine “Bebe” Katsenes, and Katherine and Nathan Mann, and her brother and sister-in-law Joel and Catherine “Cache” Steinberg.

A graveside service will be held at Paradise Memorial Gardens in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Sunday, November 30th at 10:00 a.m. Donations may be made in her memory to the Arizona Humane Society or Hospice of the Valley.

May her memory be for a blessing.