Susan Walczak

Susan Walczak – January 5, 1971- June 14, 2025

Well, I guess if you are reading this, I’ve moved on to my next adventure. Please don’t be sad for long. I am in the midst of reuniting with some amazing souls that we haven’t seen in a very long time. I don’t think the concept of death is properly taught to us in this earthly world. I think it should be made clear to us from our birth that it is a part of life and it’s not an event that needs to be dreaded. I don’t care for the trauma, fear and sadness attached to it. I like to believe that it’s just like walking around the corner. You’ll know I’m there, you may not see me…but you can talk to me and I can talk to you. If you think of me, I’ll be there with a friendly smile from a stranger, a warm ray of sunshine or a single weed in the middle of your manicured lawn. Wink.

Please remember me while you are having a cocktail in your backyard, while you’re peacefully planting spring flowers, smelling your freshly cut grass, or strolling the park, beach or the woods. Plants and animals were my life, and I was proud to be their guardian. I’ll miss my pups, Molly & Dudley terribly. I’m sorry to leave them in their older years, they are my children, and I love them dearly.

I’ll also miss working. I loved landscaping and the physicality of it all, until I took its toll on my body. I’m proud that Groundbreakers continues on. Later, I turned to running Sunshine’s Yard Supply thinking it might be less physically taxing, and I could work at my own pace, and that worked for a while…but then my body and the Universe had other plans for me and it became too much. A cockamamie scheme really, but a Capricorn needs a purpose, and I believe that I have fulfilled it. I’ll miss seeing old friends stopping by with coffee as well as meeting new friends each day.

What I won’t miss is lifting rocks, blocks, lugging hoses around and bending over for everything. I won’t miss the pouring rain, leaks in the roof, lake effect snowstorms, shoveling snow, chopping wood or the cold in my bones or those days when I shivered myself to sleep.

I leave behind some pretty awesome people…

My Buffalo family, the Walczak’s of Hamburg, NY. The kindest and most faithful example of love that I have ever seen, my parents, Jim & Kathy, my brothers Jimmer, Jeff (Erika) Walczak and my sisters Mary Walczak -Swan and Katie (Tim) Hayes. My nieces Jaida and Paige Walczak, Haley and Gracey Swan. My nephews Jeffrey and Brendan Walczak, Aiden and Alex Hayes along with my little farming soulmate Cameron Swan and special little furball Birch. I have many, many cousins, aunts and uncles as well. I was so blessed to be chosen into this family. They molded me and gave me everything I needed in this life. They treated me as if I were their very own. There was never a doubt in my mind that they loved me unconditionally. I love you and thank you for loving me.

My Syracuse family are the Simmons of Brewerton, NY. They are my birth family, whom I reconnected with in 2013 at the age of 42. The most amazing person I have ever met, my mother, Margaret Jordan Simmons, my sisters Bridgette (Jeff) Evans, Courtney (Jason) Kwilos and my brother Joshua Simmons (MacKenzie Youngman). My nieces Joella and Kennedy Kwilos, my nephews Luke and Jake Evans, Colton Kwilos and Kane Youngman- Simmons. Aunt Kathy Adams and Uncle Gene (Vicki), and my many cousins, as well as Joel’s extended family… I feel so grateful for finding you all. You accepted me without question after all those years and made me feel comfortable and loved from day one. Please don’t ever stop telling the story of “Long-Lost Sister Sue”. I love you and thank you for loving me. I know you all love the chicken parm, but the Thanksgiving stuffing was always my absolute favorite.

One last special honorary family…. The Thirys. Mom #3 Bonnie, Don, Kim, Shelley and the late Donnie “Big Guy”. Thank you for always catching me when I fell. For giving me a retreat and counsel when life got to be too much, and for feeding me throughout much of my youth. I love you and those clams casino. “Ewww, my neck.”

And lastly, s special Thank you to Beth Stonish, Dee & Dan Meyer for always being true friends and having my back through it all. I love you.

To all my friends… there was a reason we connected so well, and I will be forever fond of you. I was blessed to have each of you in my life. Thank you all for your support throughout the years, thank you for all the cheers, tears, but most importantly, the laughs. So many laughs. I ask that you do not wear black in mourning for me… but please wear something colorful in honor of me. There will be no service, just a short few hours to support my family and each other.

Please do something with the small token I leave for you, something that reminds you of me. A place, an event or a song, leave me near a flower, a beautiful body of water, or cast me over the roaring campfire. Get creative, you know I love whimsical and unusual. You also know that I always believed that it is the intention that matters… so have some fun with this last memory we shall make together.

Please let me leave you with these words… Farewell my friend and remember to stay true to yourself. Keep in touch. I love you.

Memorials may be made in Sue’s memory to Supporting Rescue Alliance, a dog rescue organization that is near and dear to her heart, make checks payable to Supporting Rescue Alliance c/o Shelly Jemiolo 1465 Brant North Collins Rd. North Collins, NY 14111 or through PayPal – fromtexassra@gmail.com

A Memorial Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 22, 2025 from 12:00 – 3:00 pm at the (Hamburg Chapel) JOHN J. KACZOR FUNERAL HOME, INC. 5453 Southwestern Blvd. (corner of Rogers Rd. 716-646-5555)