Susan Ellen Sugawara passed away Wednesday March 11, 2026 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.
Susan was born March 21,1956 at Camp Pendleton Marine Corp. Base in Oceanside, California to the late Dale A. and Majorie A. (Lyao) Ehlert. Her father passed away in 1961 while on duty in Okinawa, Japan.
She had a long career in banking and rose to the rank of Vice President of Security Pacific Bank in Los Angeles and then Vice President for Bank of America in San Francisco, California. After her mother passed away in Placentia, California, Susan moved to Carbondale, Illinois in 2010, where she began a new career at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. Susan also served as the Lodge Secretary of the Carbondale Elks Lodge # 1243.
Susan retired from SIU-C in November 2023 and resided in Murphysboro, Illinois until her passing.
She leaves behind her much-loved pets Lulu and Maya, and her life partner, Stephen “Peaches” Hall.
Memorials may be given to Mac’s Mission, a pit bull and Janky pet rescue at 325 County Road 436 Jackson, Missouri 63755.
Walker Funeral Home and Crematory of Southern Illinois entrusted with arrangements.
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