Susan Gale Fjeldheim

Susan G. Fjeldheim (Placek)

Susan Fjeldheim, loving wife of Ronald Fjeldheim and the most generous mother of Samantha, Alexandra, and Erik (Kaila), passed away on Easter morning April 9^th, 2023 after a long battle with Early Onset Alzheimer’s. She was surrounded by her family and under the care of Colonial Nursing Home in Crown Point, IN.

Sue was born on March 9^th, 1957 in Chicago. She was the devoted daughter of Barbara and the late but ever so great Chester Placek. She has three surviving siblings: Char (Paul) Peterson, Steve (Debbie) Placek, and Mike (Debi) Placek. Sue was the niece of Arlene (Auntie) Knudsen and the late, beloved Bill (Donna) Richards. She was the daughter-in-law of the late, wonderful Ed (Dorothy) Fjeldheim.

Sue grew up in Blue Island, IL and attended Dwight D. Eisenhower High School. She then went on to graduate from Illinois State University and earned her Masters at Governors State University. She then pursued her passion of helping children with special needs as a Speech Language Pathologist at Greenwood Elementary in South Holland, IL, where she taught for 34 years.

Sue was never presented an easy lot in life. When her and Ron had their beautiful daughter Samantha in 1990, they became the parents of a special needs daughter. Sue ensured that Samantha’s needs never went unmet and provided her with the absolute best care. Sue was also a Breast Cancer survivor after being diagnosed in 2012. She then was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s in 2014. Despite the diagnosis, she went on to spend her days laughing, smiling, and loving.

That will forever be Sue’s legacy. Her ability to love and give to others was unmatched. She never went a day without telling her kids how much she loved and adored them.  She would go out of her way to make everyone feel welcome, always forming special individual connections with everyone who crossed her path. Her family will always remember her “snapping and clapping” out on the dance floor with Ron, reading stories to her Sammy, taking shopping trips out Oakbrook with Alex, or playing volleyball in the pool with Erik.

Sue will forever and always be loved and greatly missed.

Memorial visitation Thursday April 13^th from 3:00 till 8:00 pm at the KERRY FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CARE CENTER, 7020 West 127^th Street, Palos Heights.

Family and Friends will gather for a chapel service on Friday, April 14^th at 10:00 am at the KERRY FUNERAL HOME, followed by an Internment at GOOD SHEPHERD CEMETERY.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the GoFundMe, http://gofundme.com/susan-fjeldheim to assist the family with funeral and nursing home costs. Thank you.