Birth date: Mar 27, 1954 Death date: Jul 6, 2021
Susan Lee “Susie” Canby, 67, of Washington, VA, died Tuesday, July 6, 2021 in her home. She was born March 27, 1954 in Washington, D.C. to the late Medford and Margaret Canby. Susie was a special education teacher and legal aid l Read Obituary
I am so saddened to hear of Susie’s passing. We lived across the street from the Canbys in Washington, DC in the 1960s where she became one of my closest childhood friends. It was an honor to reconnect with her on Facebook about 15 years ago. In 2017 my mother and I were privileged to be invited to her house on Klingle St. for a personal visit with her, Anita, AJ and Mrs Canby before she passed. We extend to you our deepest condolences.
-Tom and Diana Quinn
So very sorry to hear of Susie's passing. I met her in the early 1980s when she was a law student at our Legal Aid office in Petersburg. VA. Instantly enjoyed her company and her love for justice and her desire to help those who could not help themselves. I was sad when she left us and changed careers but knew she was doing what she wanted to do. This world is a better place having had Susie in it. She surely will be missed! Kathy Brigman
Susie was one of the most caring people I've known. I knew her when she was a law student and then a lawyer at legal aid. And, when she adopted AJ (with the great smile). Years after she had gone onto her career in Special Ed, I did some legal work for one if her former clients. The client said "you're okay, but you are no Miss Canby." She was right. No one could be.
Barbara Ziony
Cousins, I am so sorry for your loss. It is a terrible thing. My condolences -- and apologies for having been unable to make it to the lovely service today.
Susie is one of the very rare, thoroughly good, human beings. . She is one of the kindest, most well-intentioned souls I have ever known. She made the world a better place. I met Susie at Camp Nakanawa decades ago when we were teens, and I was so happy to reconnect with her at a Nakanawa reunion in 2019. We had talked about me visiting her once COVID was over. This is a deeply sad loss, but Susie’s is a beautiful life to be celebrated. We thank her family for sharing her with us. Pat Hatler
I am greatly saddened to hear of the passing of Susie. I did not have to opportunity to be around her much because of the fact that she lived in Virginia and I live in Texas; however, the times that I was privileged to be around her, it did not take long to tell that she was a very special person and I could not help but fall in love with her and her quiet spirit. May God richly bless the memory of Susan Lee "Susie" Canby.
I am so sorry to hear this sad news. I always found Susie very funny, thoughtful, and sensitive. I loved her smile. I am glad that she is out of pain. She will be missed greatly.
Oh my heart. I truly have no words to express this sadness. Susie Canby and I taught together. She helped me run the school my husband and I started. She was my dearest friend. We spend uncountable hours together working and “doing life.” We went to festivals, concerts, ate at amazing restaurants, traveled to conferences and for fun. She came to the hospital as soon as Caden was born. I found out I was pregnant a few days before she found out she had cancer for the first time. We cried together when we shared this news. I was never supposed to be able to get pregnant and we were so happy, and yet we were so sad she was so sick. In true Susie fashion she told me not to worry, she would be fine.
Susie loved everyone she met. Some of the most unloveable people, she always found the good in them. She loved her students. All of her students. Kids with the most difficult behaviors that had been kicked out of school. Kids whose parents were on the verge of a breakdown because they didn’t know how to help their child. Susie loved them. She worked hard to find solutions and plans and resources that worked.
When I first had Caden within weeks I was back at work. I made a nursery next to our shared office for him. We took turns and carried him around with us wherever we went until he started being “on the go.” I hired a babysitter to come play with him once this started and I still remember the first time I had to leave the building without him in the care of that sitter. Susie was there. She heard some yelling coming from the nursery and peeked in the room to find the sitter yelling at my not even one year old, I don’t even remember why. She immediately fired her. I came back from my meeting to find Caden in her arms singing Raffie songs, something they loved to do together. Susie stood up for those that couldn’t defend themselves, always.
My heart broke when Anita called to tell me she was gone yesterday. She didn’t tell me she was close to the end, because that was Susie. She never wanted the attention on her.
She leaves behind her dear son AJ and her soulmate Anita Marie Howard. I have no words for the void. Only that in heaven her body is perfect condition and she isn’t in pain anymore. No more awful medications are needed and I know she is enjoying beautiful music and amazing food with her parents. All is Well.
Rest In Peace my dear friend. Anita I am so sorry I won’t we there on Sunday celebrating our Susie’s life but I will definitely be by to hug you and AJ soon. So much love and prayers for peace during this time.
