Hey Susie,

I have been wanting to do this for a while now, but I am still in shock. I still can’t believe I am posting this very message. But where to start with my Susie stories, hmm, that is a hard one.

I think I will start with Susie making my life what it is today. If it were not for Susie I would be a completely different person. Since meeting her in 10th grade as the “little annoying girl” who would poke us to becoming one of my greatest friends in life. We have been through a lot together, both in life experiences and shared memories with all of our friends. Not only was Susie my go-to friend whenever I had trouble in my life she was also the person who always wanted to do something and have fun.

If we were feeling lazy all of us would just hang out out on the porch, and if we felt like doing something we went out East with the Facinis. If it were not for Susie (and yes, i will be using this frequently, she’s done a lot for me), I would never have met my best friends and Melissa.

I met Melissa through hanging out at Susie’s house, a place where I solidified friendships with many others as well. Susie was my rock, that one friend in my life that everyone searches for. It wouldn’t matter if we hadn’t seen each other for 20 minutes or 2 weeks we would pick up right where we left off. She was a remarkable genuine person. For me, Susie represents the ideal character of a human being. She loved everyone and wasn’t afraid to share it.

For my fondest memory (of the many), it would have to be her sweet sixteen party. The entire night was fun. Everything about it, from making the giant human pyramid to being one of the last to leave just hanging out listening to music with her. I thank her for a lot of things in my life and will always cherish the memories that we had together.

As my bracelet is a reminder of her it is also a reminder on how to live my life like Susie. My heart goes out to Susie’s family. I will always be around to comfort and share with you, especially on the nights when Mr. and Mrs. Facini stumble upon Led Zeppelin concerts on TV. Stay strong and remember that we are here for you. <3

-Joe Cambridge

Hi Susie,

I wear your beautiful bracelet every day since your mom sent it to me. You were so lucky to be surrounded by so many people who loved you. You are a spectacular person, and while I did not meet you personally, your parents are beautiful people, who are doing everything they can to get their old friends to know you.

Your mom sent me a purple bracelet; which happens to be my 2 daughters’ favorite color. Coincidence? I don’t think so. I have seen my friends go through so much loss. I hope you are having a great time with them; Liz, Em, and I send you our love everyday. Sweet angel.

-Mary Ellen

Although I didn’t have the privilege of knowing Susie as an adult, I have such fond & vivid memories of Susie when she was 4. Andy & my son Matt were in third grade together and between getting together at each others homes, meeting at the beach, and the boys being on the same church soccer and baseball teams, we would see Susie a lot.

Susie’s smile always lit up the room even then. She had such enthusiasm for life! She was always smiling & dancing around! I love to read the posts & stories from her family & friends. By reading them, I feel I have gotten to know Susie as an adult.

I don’t think she changed very much; the beautiful little girl with the wonderful smile grew into a beautiful young lady with that same wonderful smile. Susie has touched many lives in many ways… she will always be remembered for the sweet, kind, loving, gentle she was… and if we all LIVE LIKE SUSIE… what a legacy that will be! Love you Susie! 🙂

-Karen Kershis

Susie, my favorite memory was when your mom took us to Connecticut for your birthday to go to that huge mall and go shopping. We took the ferry over and had so much fun the whole time. We got Dip’n Dots at the mall from that new machine that was like a suction cup and we were so amazed by it and how it pulled the dip and dots up. The simplest things always made you laugh. Anything would make you happy no matter what it was. I miss your laugh, and I miss you so much.

-Danielle Riccardella

If you knew Susie, you already know everything I am about to say. But these are my memories of the time I spent with her. Susie touched my heart deeply in the short blink of time I knew her, but this is for her, on the anniversary of the day she became the miracle she is.

My memories of Susie span over an entire year. I don’t have just one special situation that I can go back to and remember as worth telling. She touched my heart each and every day, without even knowing it most days. I often forget the instance in which I first meet a person, but not with Susie. I remember reading her name in the email that told me she and I would share a room that next September at Stony Brook. I immediately contacted Susie, so excited to meet her, even if I could only communicate with her through a computer for the time being. As we spoke for the first time, I felt so connected to Susie. We had so much in common already. We shared interests and even through the computer, she sounded so bright and friendly. I knew that our year would be really great. I wasn’t wrong.

One of the things we had first talked about that day, when we first met, was having dance parties.  I think that Susie did this almost everywhere she went, music or not. One night Susie and a group of our friends were walking around campus. It began to snow, and she of course was wearing one of her adorable winter hats. She ran ahead of the rest of the group, giggling, spinning, jumping around, and generally just getting very excited. Whether it was because of the snow or just the evening itself, it didn’t matter: she was completely content, and her joy was contagious, the group in turn was laughing and shouting along with Susie.

I must have told Susie that I loved her multiple times in one week. Every moment she was around she was either trying to make us smile,  feel better, or just have fun and I am so grateful for it all the time. I told people all that time that I couldn’t have asked for a better roommate. We got along so well.
I’ll never forget her undying love for ice cream at any give hour of the day or night. She absolutely loved her ice cream, especially after she’d had a good long night of fun. She would just smile and say “Ice cream?” that big bright Susie smile that was so infectious.

Susie was always there for her friends. Even people that weren’t necessarily her friends, she would try and talk to and console. I had a friend over the room, and was trying to talk her out of doing things to herself that could be harmful. When Susie came home, she immediately came to her aid and sat there talking for hours, helping my friend who she hardly knew. I think what Susie said might have really helped where I never could have dreamed of helping.

It’s thanks to Susie that I am friends with many of the people around me. Most of them were people that she collected in her travels through classes, work, parties, and anything she did. She had very little fear when it came to meeting new people. Susie was the queen of making connections with anyone and everyone, even random people. What is even more special, is that she never split her friends into categories. All of her friends were always tangled together, and she made so many friendships between other people that will be long lasting. My own close friends often asked about Susie and always loved when she was around.

Susie was dedicated to loving. Not just loving her friends and her family. She was dedicated to loving in general. She loved life, her friends, her family, and the world around her. Everything she touched will forever be changed for the better. Including me. Susie changed my life. I will be forever grateful to her.

I love you Susie, always. <3

-GraceAnne Taylor