Susan Marie Cunningham

Susan was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. She graduated from HS and later became a flight attendant for United Airlines and was assigned to O'Hare Airport in Chicago. That is where she met her future husband, John Cunningham, a fledgling salesman who would soon be leaving for active duty with the United States Army 7th Special Forces. Susan and John were married in a city hall ceremony on March 25, 1970. Susan returned home to Vancouver to await John's return a year later and the two of them returned to Chicago to start their marital journey that lasted for 47 years. Susan and John spent five years in Bolingbrook, IL before moving to San Jose, CA for John's job and three years later moved again for John's job to Appleton, WI where their son Timothy John was born on October 19, 1980. Three years later they moved again for John's job to Rocklin, CA where they have resided for the past 33 years. Susan spent most of her career as a wonderful homemaker while working various part time jobs as a secretary and receptionist, including ten years for John's executive recruiting company, while also being Tim's number one supporter and cheerleader at all of his baseball games at Rocklin HS and Stanford University. In 1998 Susan was diagnosed with terminal cancer, but thru her immense strength, will to live, deep belief in God and skillful doctors, she surprised everyone and won the battle, albeit with numerous health challenges for the rest of her life. The cancer returned in 2014 and only due to her diminishing physical strength this time she could not win the battle. Although Susan knew the end was near, she again showed her great inner strength and grace, and with John and Tim at her side and surrounded by many of her closest friends, she bid farewell and entered the Kingdom of God. Please remember Susan for her radiant smile, engaging personality and tremendous caring and compassion for those in need, both people and animals. Preceding her in death are her parents Don Kinsman and Ermine Kettlewell and closest friends, Mari Zieour, Barbara Huerman and Sharon Harlan. Surviving Susan are her husband John, son Tim, sister Patti Brook, sister-in-laws Carol Magmer and Pat Tarant, (more like sisters), and nieces Carol and Mari Magmer. A celebration of Susan's life will be held at a later date, and in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Susan's favorite charities: Salvation Army, Alliance for Lung Cancer, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Paws for Purple Hearts, ASPCA and PAWS. We would also like to thank Susan's many doctors who cared for her the past 18 years and the entire nursing staff at Sutter Roseville Hospital who were so caring during Susan's numerous stays. "Susan... many of us will remember your inspiring spirit and your belief that all of us should be a better person today than we were yesterday and still better tomorrow"