Susan Margaret Colburn

1953 - 2025

Susan Margaret Colburn

June 10, 1953 - October 18, 2025

Susan Colburn was a beloved wife, daughter, sister, stepmother, aunt, grandmother and friend.

Susan was born in Huntsville, AL on June 10, 1953, to Charles and Joan Colburn. In 1968, the family moved to Auburn, AL when her father joined the Auburn University Chemistry Department. After high school, she studied botany at Auburn University. During these years, Susan was an attentive companion to younger siblings Amy, Marsie and Gordon – always ready for badminton, a bike ride, or a walk around Cary Drive.

After completing a master's degree in plant cytology at Cornell University, she took a job in St. Louis at Monsanto, doing plant research and electron microscopy. In 1987 she married Hak Cheng, whom she met through mutual friends at her church in St. Louis. Together, they travelled extensively in China, Canada, the U.K., Europe and the U.S.

Susan loved her family dearly. She was close both in age and geographically to her older sister Katie in Illinois. For 15 wonderful years there were frequent visits between Susan and Hak and Katie, Arthur and sons. Susan delighted in her Illinois nephews Nathan, Benjamin and Chaz, and later sister Marsie's children Sheridan and Tammany, brother Gordon's children Caleb and Olivia, and stepson Lee's daughter Lily.

In 1999 Susan and Hak moved to Auburn, purchasing her mother's house, making it feasible for Joan to remain in her home for 51 years, with their help and companionship. They were also nearer to Hak's son Lee, and daughter May in Florida. Colburns and Chengs enjoyed visiting them in their Auburn home during those decades.

Susan was an avid reader, and particularly enjoyed C.S. Lewis, Ann Lamott, Jane Austen, Mark Twain, and a wide range of non-fiction. She was a talented quilter, and an excellent baker. Scents of her freshly baked cookies filled the house, especially at Christmas time, and when she and her mother hosted study club meetings. With her lifelong love of learning, Susan enjoyed the Auburn Study Club and the friends she made there.

Susan and Hak enjoyed life in Auburn, though health problems became increasingly challenging. Following the death of her mother to covid, they moved to Celebration, Florida in 2021 to be close to Hak's adult children. Unfortunately, far too soon, both Susan's and Hak's health turned for the worse. In December 2022 Hak preceded Susan in death.

As her illness progressed, Susan's care was managed attentively by Hak's son Lee. She delighted in spending time with Lee, his wife Kelly, daughter Lily, and his sister May.

Susan was the voice of reason, the peacemaker and memory keeper in her family. She fought valiantly in her struggle with Parkinson's disease. On October 18, 2025, death freed her from that struggle.

Susan was predeceased by her parents and husband. She is survived by Hak's son Lee Cheng (Kelly and their daughter Lily), Hak's daughter May Cheng (Vincent Claus), and by siblings Katie Gross (Arthur) of Decatur, IL, Amy Colburn of Pine Lake, GA, Marsie Grant (Darren) of Huntsville, TX and Gordon Colburn (Lian) of Alpharetta, GA, seven nieces and nephews, a great-niece, and two great-nephews.

The family is deeply grateful to the wonderful Senior Helpers who provided Susan with around-the-clock care and companionship during her final few years.

If you wish to remember Susan with a gift, she would have been pleased by donations to Presbyterian Community Ministry of Auburn, Food Bank of East Alabama, Sierra Club Foundation, or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.