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Susan Norma Jeanne Sutton

Susan Norma Jeanne Sutton, often known as Norma Rowell, age 75, of Saranac Lake, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, at Spring Cypress Assisted Living in Cypress, Texas.

Born and raised in Millville, New Jersey to the late Leamond and Norma (Petit) Sutton, Susan graduated from Millville High School, graduated from Helene Fuld School of Nursing on a full scholarship, then went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Plattsburgh in New York state.

Often described by friends and family as one of the funniest people they ever met, Susan was incorrectly described as quiet on many occasions. She settled in Saranac Lake, where she raised her two children in the Adirondack Park. She taught her kids to ski by dragging them off the T-bar every time she fell when at Mount Pisgah. Susan bribed her daughter with a quarter to encourage her to ride in her dad’s Death Glider, where she screamed all the way down. Susan was eventually forgiven.

Susan was a registered nurse, working for the state of New York hospital and prison system (crossing that icy parking lot at minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit and 4 o’clock a.m. all those winter mornings), retiring in 2008 after over 25 years of tough love.

She loved the beauty of Saranac Lake, and took pride in raising her children and maintaining their home just a degree over freezing, plowing her own road and keeping the bears out of the trash by beating on the dryer with a spoon. At times, snowbanks and stop signs quivered in fear as she passed by. One stop sign in Ray Brook, near what was Arctic Cream, was a constant reminder for years, with its leaning pole notwithstanding her unrelenting laughing denial.

Susan was fortunate enough to have attended the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, where she and her children witnessed Eric Heiden awarded his five gold medals. She was able to attend several live performances over the years, including her favorite artists Toby Keith, Neil Diamond, Barry Manilow and Carol Burnett.

She made it to Hawaii, another of her dreams, although she never got that condo. During the trip she was involuntarily but enthusiastically volunteered by her daughter as part of an impromptu team of emergency responders when one of her tour bus drivers had a heart attack while driving.

Watching tennis, reading, knitting, embroidering and enjoying her great Dane and Yorkies were but a few of Susan’s other favorite pastimes. She disdained mushrooms and cold french fries, loved coffee and lattes, burgers and chocolate shakes and a good sandwich. She never broke her hip, which she had threatened her family with on multiple occasions.

Most of all, however, she treasured the time that she was able to share living and laughing with her family.

Susan will be greatly missed by her son Matthew David Rowell and wife Fei Wang of Glen Allen, Virginia; her daughter Monica Shin and husband Jin of Cypress, Texas; one brother, Leamond “Bud” Sutton and wife Charmaine of Elmer, New Jersey; one sister, Marilyn Dupree and husband Gerald of Beaver Creek, Ohio; four grandchildren: Meg, Sujean, Colby and Ava; and two great-grandchildren, Odin and Osiris. Some may feel the roads will not miss her.

A private graveside service for Susan will be conducted in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Millville, New Jersey. Arrangements are under the direction of the Christy Funeral Home, Millville, New Jersey.

In loving memory of Susan, memorial contributions may be made to the Tri-Lake Humane Society, 255 George Lapan Memorial Hwy., Saranac Lake, NY 12983, or at the website trilakehumanesociety.org.

Memories and expressions of sympathy for Susan Norma Jeanne Sutton are most welcome and may be shared on the Obituary Tribute Wall at www.christyfuneralservice.com.