Sue Ann "Susie" (McKenzie) Atkins

Sue Ann “Susie” (McKenzie) Atkins, age 77 of Willoughby and Chardon, OH, passed away peacefully on August 22, 2025, surrounded by her family. Born on August 25, 1947 in Cumberland, MD, to George “Frank” and Mildred “Millie” McKenzie, she was the youngest of their eight children. Susie’s children and grandchildren were her biggest treasures. Her kids have many memories of Sunday drives in Cumberland (yes, all five kids piled in the old Plymouth Duster or the Ford Fairmont). Trips to the creek, playing at Constitution Park (feeding the bear), and climbing on the Caboose and old airplane were part of the fun. Family camping trips at the Youghiogheny River and Raystown Lake are memories that she did all she could to let them be a part of. Susie never sat on the sidelines. She was in there splashing and climbing right along with her kids. Family meant the world to her. When doctors told her in January that she should get her affairs in order she set her goal to live to be at a family reunion on July 4th. This was to be her final wish and doctors extended treatment several times to help her meet her goal. Her kids took the helm, put together the plan and did all the things to make that happen. The bonus was her last trip to Jack Casino, which she highlighted as her favorite part of it all. Her children were only second to the grandchildren as she lived the last half of her life looking forward to the next time one of them would visit. Or when a niece or nephew would make a stop in town and take the time to visit her. Aunt Susie had a spirit that made her a bit of an icon in the family. She was not afraid to be silly and her sense of humor was a little ‘Extra” at times. But she was also not afraid to give you advice or speak her mind. Most of her kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews have ‘those memories’ that made her special. She had many friends, who meant the world to her. She formed a sisterhood with co-workers and treasured those relationships as she did her family. She worked hard as a nursing assistant with elderly and dying patients for many years. In more recent years, the sisterhood was created at Breckenridge in her independent living apartment where she and her late husband, Bob, enjoyed the community of people that shared activities, meals and time. When Bob passed in 2022, those relationships only grew. Susie is survived by her children, Richard Greenwalt, Lisa (Ingwer), Debbie (Doug) Streets, Dana (Bernadette) Greenwalt, and Dean (Melissa) Greenwalt; grandchildren, LeAnna, Richie, Trish, Tina, Amy, KeLynn, Jeremy, Cora, Sean, Zachary, Ryan, Hunter, Andrew and Ian; her great-grandchildren, Izzy, Emillia, Ethan, Lydia, Cecelia, Harrison and Evelyn. She is also survived by her brothers Bud (Shirley) and Joe; her sister Rita, as well as many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews – each of whom she knew by name. She is preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Robert “Bob” Atkins; her parents, Frank and Millie McKenzie; her sisters, Mary Jo, Dotty, Ginny, and her brother, Jim. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at St. Mary’s Parish, 401 North St., Chardon, OH 44024. Family will receive friends at 9 a.m. on Saturday in the hospitality room/chapel of the church prior to the Mass. Watch the livestream here: https://stmarychardon.org/livestream A private interment will be in the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, Rittman, OH. In her memory, contributions may be made to Cleveland Clinic Hospice, 6801 Brecksville Rd #10, Independence, Ohio 44131 or Project Hope for the Homeless, P.O. Box 2035, Painesville, Ohio 44077, or online at projecthopeforthehomeless.org/donate/ Arrangements entrusted to the Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Mentor, OH. Offer condolences at www.brunners.com.

Sue Ann "Susie" (McKenzie) Atkins

August 25, 1947 - August 22, 2025