Harvey––Susan Marie (Leaver)
Smedman, beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend,
of 544 Silver Creek Road, Harvey, went to her eternal rest
in God, Saturday, July 21, 2007, at Marquette General Hospital,
after a courageous 8 month battle against pancreatic cancer.
Sue was born in Pittsburgh, PA, March 14, 1963 to William
and Joan (Moloney) Leaver. Moving with her parents to Marquette
as a young child, she became a lifelong “Yooper”.
Sue had various interests throughout her life: Bingo, board
and card games with family and friends, knitting and crocheting,
enjoying the races at Sands Speedway (now Thunder Valley
Raceway) were her earlier interests. After graduation from
Marquette Senior High School in 1981, Sue began a nearly
15 year career in data entry, bookkeeping and billing for
various accounting firms in Marquette and Richmond, VA.
She married Mark Smedman December 4, 1987. With the birth
of her children; Mary on August 22, 1992, Michael on October
1, 1996 and Robert on October 28, 1997, Sue’s life
took on new facets. Sue made the choice to be a homemaker
for her family. She was mother to her children and took
their upbringing as her most sacred responsibility. She
was instrumental in her children’s early development,
helping them
discover the world around them and was also committed to
assisting her children’s physical, emotional and spiritual
progress throughout their young lives. In the years of her
marriage, Sue developed interests that coincided with her
family: membership in St. Louis the King Catholic Church,
Women’s Club, Summerfest Committee and other groups
and committees, Father Marquette Catholic School’s
Home and School Committee and Sands Township Recreation
Committee. Oh, and how Sue loved to laugh! Jokes, pranks,
snappy banter, she had them all! If you ever had her greet
you with “hey, bimbo, how’s it going?”
or “Hi, troubles, what’s happening?” you
knew Susie was in fine form! Sue was preceded in death by
an infant son, Michael James; her mother, Joan Moloney;
a sister, Loretta Leaver; her maternal grandparents, Joseph
and Wilhelmina Moloney; and paternal grandparents, John
“Pops” and Cecelia “Baba” Schultz.
Sue is survived by her husband, Mark; her beloved children,
Mary and Robert; her father, William Leaver Sr. of Marquette;
sister, Michelle (Don) Oberg of Sands Township; brother,
William Jr. (Teresa) Leaver; and nephew, Adam Hamilton of
Romulus; and many aunts, uncles and cousins whom she loved
very much.
Susie’s positive outlook, good humor and love sustained
her throughout her life. Let us remember those qualities
as we remember her.
Friends may call at St. Louis the King Catholic Church,
264 Silver Creek Road, Harvey, on Thursday, July 26, beginning
at 11:00 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated
at 2:00 pm Thursday afternoon with Rev. Ben Paris, pastor,
as celebrant. A luncheon will follow in Fr. Gauthier Hall.
Pallbearers will be Keith Barton, Jimmy Holman, Donnie Houghton,
Tom Myers, Kim Longtine, and John Sleeter.
