Life

Many of you knew Susie as Grandma, Sister in Christ, Singapore Sue, and dear friend. Whatever your relationship, we can all agree on one thing: she was a woman after God’s own heart who was as selfless and kind as Mother Teresa.

Susie was a busy woman, but she was never too busy to lend a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. If you showed up at her house, you knew you would leave spiritually and physically filled to the brim. Whether it was 5 minutes or 5 hours, she would drop everything to help someone in need. She believed in serving all others as Christ served, and it showed in everything she did.

She loved cooking as a form of service, and her cooking was second to none. Whether it was simple dishes like meatloaf or her famous egg rolls, when you ate Susie’s food, you knew you would never be disappointed. No matter how long it took to make, she poured her heart into everything she made and topped it with a sprinkle of love (and MSG). And of course, she always made sure you left 20 pounds heavier than when you came.

Our mom’s love was not just evident in her cooking, though. She was deeply passionate about her ministry, it truly was her fifth child. She was diligent and faithful with her daily “Deep Thoughts” Facebook posts, but she also only posted at the Lord’s prompting. Her book, also called “Deep Thoughts”, was a source of encouragement and a true light in the darkness for so many.

Birth

Her story began on March 11th, 1958. It was an unusually hot and humid night in Singapore. Susie’s mother was pregnant with her and was sleeping atop a cold smooth tombstone in the cemetary. It was the only way to get relief from the oppressive heat.

As she slept, storm clouds gathered in the night sky and thunder erupted. She suddenly went into labor. She stumbled home as lightning crashed and rain poured down.

The contractions didn’t last long. The sky shook and the earth quaked... and then a light entered this world.

The newborn’s name was Lei Hong, which is Chinese for Beautiful Phoenix. But a typo in her birth certificate listed it as Beautiful Pineapple. Which was fitting because in the eyes of her father, she was indeed his little pineapple, a fruit that was once a reserved only for royalty.

As a child, Susie was strong and exceedingly bright among her peers. Her family, however, was poor and couldn’t afford a proper education for her. But that didn’t stop her mother from trying.

One day, she took little Sue to the most prestigious elementary school in Singapore, the kind that future political and business leaders attended. She knew that her daughter belonged there.

Her mother didn’t have the money, but the school principal was willing to give Sue a chance if she could pass a certain test.

He told her mother to wait outside.

In his office, he handed Sue a piece of paper and some colored pencils and said, “draw me a picture of something that makes you sad.”

She did, and then he said, “tell me a story about what you drew.”

Sue had drawn a woman in a dress full of holes and patches because she was poor and couldn’t afford a new dress. The woman was holding a bouquet of flowers, which she had picked from the side of the road, and she was selling some of the flowers. This woman had little money but wanted to still share something beautiful with the world.

The principal was so impressed with the drawing and story that he gave her a full scholarship on the spot.

That woman in rags selling flowers was, in a way, Susie herself. Our mom didn’t have much money. But she had infinite riches in her heart, an unlimited supply of love, wisdom, and joy that could uplift and enlighten anyone who was open to receiving it.

Even when she had nothing, our Susie gave everything.

Death

Her son Tom vividly remembers September 13, 2021. It was an unusually hot and humid night in Florida. His partner Carissa excitedly called him out to the balcony to watch an incredible lightning storm underway. She had never seen anything like it. Lightning hung in the air for several seconds at a time, striking each spot over and over. Thunder rumbled continuously from horizon to horizon.

Around 4 in the morning, the storm ended in one massive explosion. The sky shook and the earth quaked, and the power went out. All was dark.

In that very moment, 1500 miles away in Iowa, and 63 years after that fateful night in Singapore, a light left this world.

We got the call from Sara less than an hour later. “Bro” she cried to Tom. “Mom’s gone.”

Our hearts sank. All went dark.

But the lights from the power outage earlier quickly came back on, and the air was still. There was nothing to fear. As Sue always said, “Don’t worry! God is in control.”

May the Holy Spirit grant us, that the darkness of our grief also be brief. May it be out-shined by the blooming seeds of light that she planted in our hearts, the seeds of wisdom, love, compassion, and joy.

May Susie's legacy live on through our dedication to obeying the voice of Spirit, to being our best selves, and to being there for others.

May we live joyfully and abundantly by the power of right feeling, right thinking, and right acting.

Love

Susie... Lei Hong... our Beautiful Pineapple, you have risen from ashes again and again in this life, like the phoenix that you are. And you will again.

Death is no different. Death is not the end. It is an awakening to your Eternal Self. And we know that you are now happy and smiling down at us.

To this world you’re an incredible mother, grandmother, sister, wife, and friend. You’re an inspiring fighter, a gifted teacher, a selfless giver, and a humble servant of God.

You never stopped giving. When we gathered at your house in the hours after your passing, we found your crockpot on with a delicious pot roast waiting for us. You had cooked us one last meal. Even in death, you didn’t stop giving.

We are all so unbelievably proud of you, and so grateful for who you were to us. We love you. Forever.