Suzanne Jeanne Robertson Denend went to be in the loving arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the 8th day of February 2022.
Suzanne was born May 9, 1945 to John William and Vivian Jeanne (Thomas) Robertson in Compton, California. Suzanne attended San Luis Obispo High where she excelled in studies and enjoyed playing the violin, piano, and ukulele. Suzanne was also active in Drama Club, Choir, and the California Scholarship Association. After graduation, Suzanne earned her Nursing Degree from Highland School of Nursing as well as Mills College in Oakland, California. She then married her children’s father and relocated to Milwaukie, Oregon where she was a registered nurse for Dwyer Memorial (now Providence). At that same time, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Lewis and Clark University and then finished her formal education at Linfield University, earning her Master of Science in nursing administration. All these amazing accomplishments were completed while working full time and raising a family of four children: twins Marc and Carolyn, Matthew, and Joshua. Suzanne went on to practice nursing in Oregon, Illinois, Montana, and many other states as a traveling nurse.
Suzanne loved to hunt and her greatest moment was winning her Big Horn Sheep permit (very hard to come by) and going on to shoot her first and only Big Horn. Suzanne loved to bake (with lard for those flaky pie crusts) and could destroy a clean kitchen. She would con her young children that if they washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen, they were cooking “just like Mommy.” If you knew Suzanne and didn’t have a hilarious story then you didn’t really know her. Her humor and quick wit inherited from her family and handed down to her children and grandchildren is a true blessing.
Suzanne was preceded in death by parents John Robertson (1983), stepfather Jack White (2017) and mother Vivian Robertson White (2021). Suzanne is survived by husband, Jerry Denend, siblings Sally Mailand (Bob), John “Rob” Robertson (Vicky), Pamela Bellovich (Barry), and Anne Hartman (Randy), children Marc Warner (Marnie), Carolyn Warner-Greer (Jerry), Matthew Warner, and Joshua Warner, and stepchildren Bambi and Billy Denend. She was “Nana from Montana” for nine grandchildren (Jacob, Zella, Madeline, Meghan, Molly, Micah, Virginia, Gabriel, and Sebastian) as well as “Aunt Suzy” to her five nieces and three nephews.
Per Suzanne’s wishes, her ashes will be spread into the Pacific Ocean later. It was her favorite place to be. Thank you so much to The Living Centre for the love and support of our mom.