SUSAN KAY FERA
March 29, 1943 ˜ June 11, 2023

Susan joined an older sister, JoAnn, and brother, David, when she was born to her mother, Mary and father, Julian Sustello. She grew up on the family farm on the outskirts of Eugene, OR. She helped with the chickens and cows and raised sheep. Sister Nancy joined the family 12 years later. Upon graduation from South Eugene High School, she enlisted in the Women's Army Corps. She went through basic training in Alabama at Fort McClellan. Upon completion of her basic training, Susan qualified for clerk-typist school. She was sent to Fort Huachuca in Arizona as a clerk typist. It was there that she met her husband to be, William "Bill" J. Fera. They were married June 23, 1962, at St. Peter's Parish in Eugene, OR.

Their first child, William, Jr., was born the following year after they moved to Eugene from Arizona. While the couple lived in Eugene, Bill attended the University of Oregon. The newlyweds eventually settled in Springfield OR buying a house and using sweat equity for the down payment. That is, they "got" to paint the brand-new house themselves. A second child, Elizabeth, was born in 1964. It was at this time that Susan found her calling through the unfortunate demise of her father. He suffered a heart attack, and while in the hospital, Susan noticed the care that was being given to him by the "candy stripers." She decided that "she could do that too." She and her mother enrolled in the just starting, and first class of a new nursing program at Lane Community college. She and her mother were part of the initial graduating class, both becoming licensed practical nurses. Her husband graduated with an accounting degree and was hired by Boise Cascade in their Pasco, WA, office which meant a move to the Tri-Cities area. They settled in Kennewick, WA, where Susan continued working as an LPN at a nursing home. In 1969, the final member of the family arrived, Julie Ann. The family moved to Vancouver, WA, and Susan went to work for St. Joseph's Hospital as a swing shift float nurse. Swing shift because it paid more and floating because it was part-time. Susan eventually decided that she wanted to further her career and signed up for classes at Clark College to become a registered nurse. She completed the program and passed the state exam and became an RN. But she didn't stop there. She chose to continue her education as an example to her kids and transferred her two-year degree program to the University of Portland where she pursued and received a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.

As a BSN, she went to work for Kaiser Permanente full time, and she worked for them for over 20 years before retiring. After her children left home, she and Bill traveled extensively. They spent many a Valentines Day in Ixtapa, basking in the sun, and multiple trips to Europe to see the "old country" where both of their fathers were from. After exhausting their wanderlust, the couple bought RV property in Ocean Park, WA, where Susan spent many weekends. She enjoyed digging for razor clams and watching the sun set. Susan was preceded in death by her handsome groom, Bill. She is survived by her sisters and brother; her three children, William (Teresa), Elizabeth (David), and Julie (Rebecca); and her five granddaughters Emily, Kelsey, Megan, Elise and Samantha. To her great dismay, Susan did not have any great-grandchildren at the time of her passing. Susan requested that her ashes be spread on an outgoing tide of the Pacific Ocean so that she could float to a warm location.