Susan Sui-Sham Snow Obituary (1947

Susan was born on 4/2/47 in Hong Kong and passed away in Seattle on 7/30/12. She graduated from Northcote College of Education and spent 14 enjoyable years teaching primary and middle school. In 1975, while visiting her brother at W.S.U. Susan met Paul on a white water rafting trip. The raft flipped over in rapids and Susan grabbed Paul's hand to help him back into the raft. They continued to hold hands for the rest of her life. For the next six summers Susan visited Paul in Alaska, Everett, and Pullman. They camped in Alaska, Canada, and the Western United States, and planned to travel the world after Paul's retirement. They married on 6/23/81. Susan immigrated to Spokane in 1982, became a U.S. citizen, and converted to Roman Catholicism. Susan worked for DSHS until Elizabeth was born on 11/28/86. Susan stayed home for 6 years to nurture Elizabeth and prepare her to excel in school. She returned to work half-time with Head Start so that she could be with Elizabeth before and after school. Susan retired in 2009, and filled her time with cooking, gardening, visiting with friends and family, singing along to her favorite musicals, and cheering Elizabeth on in her endeavors. Susan was a gourmet cook and self-professed "super-taster" who loved fine food and collected hundreds of recipes. She had a unique and goofy sense of humor, and would often be Elizabeth's accomplice in playing pranks on Paul. For 24 years Susan enjoyed her West Seattle home and Sunday Mass at St James Cathedral. She also enjoyed gardening, traveling, knitting, sewing, movies, visiting and supporting the library, and visits from her lifelong friends from Hong Kong. On 6/28/12, Elizabeth took her mother to a special lunch and her first live performance of Les Miserables, one of Susan's favorites. Susan loved Paul and Elizabeth, and was especially proud of Elizabeth's character and accomplishments. Susan valued education, supported Paul through two graduate degrees, and encouraged Elizabeth to someday pursue a Ph.D. Susan also valued service to others and volunteered at her local food bank. In recent years Susan struggled with illness, but was sustained by her strong faith in God. She was preceded in death by her father, Pak-Tong Wong, and her brother, Alex. She leaves behind Paul, her husband of 31 years, daughter Elizabeth, sister Alice Wong, mother Lily Cheung Wong, nephew Robert Schaudt and his wife Angel, and numerous members of the Snow family. Memorial donations may be made to the Seattle Public Library Foundation or to the Pike Market Food Bank. We will miss Susan, a selfless, generous, determined, loving, adventurous spirit who cherished her family and her faith. We will remember her while watching Fiddler on the Roof and savoring good food. Susan is now at peace with the Lord. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, August 18th, at 10:00 A.M. at St James Cathedral Chapel, 804 Ninth Ave, Seattle, WA 98104, with reception following. To send a flower arrangement in memory of Susan Sui-Sham Snow, please click here to visit our sympathy store.