On February 26, 2025, Susan Benkowski passed away, leaving behind her beloved children, Collin, Landin (Blanca), and Leya, as well as her cherished granddaughter, Ellie. She is survived by her mother, Carol, and her brothers, Mark (Ali) and Dennis (Joanne). Her absence is deeply felt by the many friends who will forever carry her memory in their hearts. She is now reunited with those she dearly missed, including her father, George, and her nieces, Mandy and Jessie.

A woman of immeasurable spirit and grace, Sue found joy in life's simplest treasures—the thrill of discovering rocks, fossils, and morels, and the quiet peace of casting a fishing line into the pond. With a heart as vast as her sense of humor, she was known for her wit, her free spirit, and her unwavering kindness. Whether it was a friend, a neighbor, a stranger, or even an orphaned baby animal, she was always the first to lend a helping hand.

As a mother and grandmother, her love knew no bounds. Family was the center of her world, and being a grandmother was her greatest joy. To those who knew her, she was a source of endless love, strength, and laughter—a light that can never be replaced.

Though she may no longer walk among us, Sue's spirit lives on in the beauty of the natural world she adored. It lingers in every stone turned over, in the whisper of the wind through the trees, and in the stillness of the water's edge. She may be gone from our sight, but she will never be gone from our hearts.