Susan Pfeiffer

Susie was born in Denver to Jack and Ellie Pfeiffer. From the start, Susie set about to navigate life with the twin challenges of cerebral palsy and cognitive impairment. She addressed those difficulties by way of her lively sociability and connections – her family (both immediate and extended), her own (some of you may have been a part of her well-exercised phone calling directory), and the wonderfully supportive community that developed around her.

For her first 20 years Susie lived at her family home. She was keen on the Leyden Street gang, swam at Skyline Acres, travelled with her family, skied, reveled in church youth group, went to camp (Easterseals Colorado's Rocky Mountain Village) and attended the historical Boettcher School (a school that was developed to provide educational services for children with physical disabilities).

As greater independence was aspired to, Susie moved to reside and work at the Laradon Hall Society for Exceptional Children and Adults. After approximately 10 years at Laradon, new direction took her to apartment life, group homes and host homes. During this 27-year stretch Susie's regular place of employment was SHALOM Denver, Disability and Employment Services.

A decade ago Mosaic, an organization that provided service and advocacy for Susie, introduced her to Ibnu Hidayat and Ruth Sulalahi's host home. It was there, embraced as one of Ibnu and Ruth's family, that she spent the last years of her life.

Susie is survived by her father Jack, stepmother Sue, sisters Jeanie Wills (Drew) and Cathy Emery (Patrick), 1 nephew, 3 nieces, 4 step-siblings, many first cousins, and countless doctors, nurses and caregivers who helped her along her way. Susie's first caregiver, her Mom, Ellie, predeceased her in 1984. Ellie's love infused Susie with the courage to live a full life.

Though many of us called her Susie, or some variation thereof, she had championed a change to her given name, Susan, a number of years ago. Many of the folks who met her later in her life only knew her as Susan.

Susan's life is a tribute to her wonderful soul, her zest to endure and the vast number of organizations & individuals who imparted care for her in the community she called home.

Susan's cremains will be interred alongside her Mom's in the All-Soul's walk at St. John's Cathedral, Denver, CO.

Memorial gifts may be made to a charity of your choice.