Susan Claire Mattison's Obituary
Susan Claire Mattison, a transplant from Southern California but most recently a resident of Ashburn, Virginia, passed away on July 26th, 2023, from complications in her fight against cancer.
Susan (Sue) was born on August 26, 1942, in Glendale, CA to Abbott (Duke) and Dorothy Hunter. Having dark eyes, her parents named her after the black-eyed Susan flower. She graduated from Hoover High School and moved to the San Fernando Valley where she raised us, her three daughters, as a single mother.
As a busy mom, Susan sewed dresses for us and her mother, but we did not complain when she stopped. She enjoyed baking cookies, and our school lunches were the envy of friends. She loved being outside, working in her yard, and planting flowers. In addition, Sundays were usually spent with our grandparents over dinner that mom prepared.
In order to be near us when we got home from school, mom started her career as a bank teller just about a mile from our house. She was well-respected and was soon a branch manager. After a couple of armed robberies, she opted for a safer environment in the corporate offices. In the years following her retirement from the bank, she worked for another 15 years part-time in a real estate office. Additionally, Susan was active in supporting Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission, serving as a volunteer assistant in the rescue mission kitchen.
Susan’s favorite role was as Nana to her five grandchildren. She cheered them on at sporting events, attended school activities, and made memories with one-on-one time. She would often take them bowling or mini-golf, and a stop at a favorite restaurant. She was a reliable listener, giving sound advice and posing thoughtful questions, and always so excited to hear about the lives of her grandchildren. More recently, she took great pride showing everyone she talked to pictures of her great-granddaughters.
Susan was a great friend who maintained close friendships for decades. She loved to talk on the phone and would always set aside what she was doing to listen and chat. She loved the trips to Vegas, Carson City, and the beach. She enjoyed music, shopping, sweets, and playing games—rolling a Yahtzee always guaranteed a shout-out and a fist bump.
In 2022 at the age of 79, Susan made the bold move across the country to Ashburn, launching her next big adventure and life exploration near her daughter Julie. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with cancer the month before the move. Despite the diagnosis, she courageously made a new home in Potomac Green and embraced her new community and many new friends. She played bocce ball, cornhole, bingo, bunco, and pickleball, all while undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
Susan was a fighter and wanted every possible chance to enjoy life, so she signed up for a clinical trial. She hoped that regardless of her outcome, she could be a resource for future cancer fighters.
Susan is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law: Terri and David Owen, Julie Mattison and Tom Brothers, Vikki and Jeremy Leach; Grandchildren: Cassidy (Brian) Butow, Daniel (Katie) Owen, Jordan (Brian) Salts, Jesse Leach, Maddox Leach. And her adorable great-granddaughters Reagan and Lennon Salts.
The family requests any memorial donations be made to Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission in CA https://hopethemission.org/ or locally to the Loudoun Center for women (LAWS) https://lcsj.org/
There will be a coast-to-coast celebration of Susan on her birthday, August 26th. As promised to her, it will be a Happy Hour (east coast) or Happy Lunch (west coast) with her favorite music and, of course, food. We will be sending out details soon. In Virginia, contact Julie at 301-639-0089 and in California, contact Terri at 661-609-9742.
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