Suzanne Miller, loving mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home on January 24, 2014. She lives on through her loving daughter and grandson, Michelle and Alexandru Tatos, her caring brother, Benjamin Blue, their mother Bette Blue, Sue Brakey, her best friend of 22 years, and the rest of her family and friends, who love her very much and will always cherish her memory.
Perhaps above all, Suzie, or "Nanny", was the sort of grandmother every child should have. The mere mention that Nanny was coming over would send her grandson, Alex, jumping around the house for joy. Together, they spent hours playing with action figures, playing Scooby Doo, or watching cartoons. Her patience and joy were evident in every single moment she spent with Alex. To her, he could do no wrong, and to him, she was perfect. She was, in his words, "the best pretend player ever" and his very favorite person in the whole world. Whether she was sneaking him candy (despite specific instructions from Michelle and Ted not to do so, instructions which were, of course, immediately and justifiably ignored) or dragging her oxygen tank as she followed him around the house, her every action was motivated by love, the sort of love that is given for its own sake, without any other regard or motivation, the sort of love every grandchild should experience.
Suzie cherished the cruises on which she and Michelle would go every year, not just for the scenery, or the adventure, but because this was time she could spend just with her daughter. Every fall, the planning would begin for that winter's cruise, and Suzie would call Michelle about every single detail: what clothes to bring, what shore excursions they should do, and where they should go. They would drive each other crazy, like two best friends often do. Suzie and Michelle's relationship was that of mother and daughter by birth, and friendship by choice. Her favorite trip, though, was not a cruise. It was a road trip to Sedona, AZ, with Michelle, Alex, and her son-in-law Ted. Two years ago, the family picked up Alex from school on the last day before summer vacation, and took off for Sedona, going through Las Vegas, passing by Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam, and all sorts of other sights. The part that perhaps Suzie didn't know, is that her family loved that trip just as much as she did, and she was a big part of the reason why.
Despite her pulmonary condition, Suzie took care of her elderly mom every day. No matter where she had to go, she would arrange her schedule so she had time to make breakfast for Grandma and make sure that Grandma would be ok while she was gone. Her care did not stop with her family. Suzie was very politically aware, and deeply concerned about inequality and civil rights. A lifelong Democrat, Suzie spoke often of the sacrifices made by Dr. Martin Luther King, the compassion of Pope John Paul II, and the courage of Lech Walensa, three people whose contribution to the human condition she greatly admired. Her knowledge of geography, history, and politics often surprised many who looked at her frail figure dragging an oxygen concentrator half her size and underestimated her true person.
Suzie loved the San Francisco 49ers, and she loved watching the games with Michelle while reminding everyone present of the "Montana to Rice" pass. Even when they watched the games separately, as soon as the phone rang during a game, it was invariably Suzie on the line to either gloat over a touchdown or complain about the unfairness of the refereeing.
To call Sue Brakey just a "best friend" would be to underestimate her presence in Suzie's life just as much calling Ben Blue only "her brother". Both Sue and Ben were family and friend in every sense of the word. Sue became a part of Suzie's family and will always remain a part.
While losing Suzie at only the age of 59 is unfair and unjust, her life reminds us that the measure of a person is not in the number of years we live but in the legacy we leave behind and whether we leave the world even slightly better than we found it. Her kindness and joy and the indelible impact she has had in the lives of her family and friends speak to the fact that her life did not end with her passing, but continues in the hearts and souls of her friends and family. We mourn her passing, but cherish the gift of love she gave us.
A visitation will be held Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road, Sandy, Utah beginning at 5-8 PM with a memorial service beginning at 7:00 PM.
Ah, love! could you and I with Fate conspire,
To break this sorry scheme of things entire,
Would we not shatter it to bits ‚ and then
Re-mould it nearer to the hearts' desire.
From the Rubayyat of Omar Khayyam
