Suzanne R. Nicholas Obituary (1948

Suzanne Roberta NICHOLAS Suzanne was born in Seattle on July 26, 1948, and grew up in the Ravenna neighborhood. Both her parents were educators. Her father, James Crider, was professor of drama and costume design at the University of Washington; and her mother, Lilyan Inana Crider (a second generation Nisei), taught in the public schools for twenty years. She was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree from Scripps College (Claremont), and attended Seattle University as a 5th year nursing student. In the early 1990s she obtained credentials as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor and worked at the Columbia W.I.C. Clinic teaching new mothers, one-on-one, how to breastfeed their infants as an alternative to bottle feeding. She expanded her work by creating a unique outreach at Harborview Medical Center, teaching minority women to become breastfeeding peer counselors within their own communities. She also gave written testimony about her experiences to the U.S. Senate Select Committee overseeing the W.I.C. program. (At the time breastfeeding was "controversial" but today is fully accepted and even recommended by the World Health Organization.) She continued assisting pregnant women -- especially those facing difficult or unplanned pregnancies -- as the director of the Seattle Birthright and was a charter member of the local Vita Caring. She was also a certified post partum doula. Suzanne is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her brother, Jono Crider (Beverly), and her husband of 37 years, Neil. She leaves behind four children, Maria (Ted) White, Sarah (Chris) Corwin, Samuel (Katie) and Matthew. And four beautiful grandchildren. Suzanne's warm smile and laughter, her infectious enthusiasm, and her strong Faith will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph's Parish, Seattle, at 2 P.M., Friday, August 16. Hoffner Fisher & Harvey Guestbook at harveyfuneral.com To send a flower arrangement in memory of Suzanne R. Nicholas, please click here to visit our sympathy store.