Susan M. Johnson 1959-2025

The groundhog did not see his shadow on Feb. 2, 1959, and brought us 66 years of sunshine.

Susie Q was everyone’s thoughtful sister, aunt, niece, cousin and trusted friend who always made you truly matter to her. Susie was a poet, award-winning artist and child care specialist. She was always the one at a party holding a baby or being a social butterfly. She loved to cook and bake and was ready to welcome company with a fresh cup of coffee.

Susie was well known by her beloved Purple Cat family as the proud reigning 2025 Prom Queen. She was 5-foot tall but larger than life and was a born fighter; she fiercely battled leukemia.

It brings Susie’s family great comfort to know she is reunited with her parents, Richard Sr. and Mary Ferry Johnson; as well as her sister, Cindy Johnson Whipkey; and nephew, Vincent DiVencenzo, who preceded her in death.

Susie leaves behind a long trail of broken hearts, including her siblings, Richard Jr. and Victoria Johnson, Mike and Diane Johnson, Mary Johnson, Sally and Martin Hobby, and Patty DiVencenzo, with whom she lived; as well as nieces, Nichole, Candice, Melissa, Leslie, Kristen, Kimberly, Bridget and Natalie; nephews, Eric, Craig, Rich, Albert, Keith, Rick, Joshua, Jake, Patrick, Dominic and Michael; and her remaining aunts and uncles, Fred and Eleanor Dunn, Cathy and Chuck Fitch, and Janet Johnson.

She leaves behind countless family at Purple Cat, especially Preston, Jan, Jimmie and Kristen S., who helped bring Susie’s potential to light. Art and cooking and baking with the staff made her so happy. Her close Pearl Street friends, Saige, Julia, Antwan and Mark C. would call her every night and have hilarious conversations.

Susie’s spirit was too large to be contained much longer in this world and her light lives on in the memory of her beautiful smile.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to her care team at Helping Hands Behavioral Health: Keisha, Courtney, Caroline, Meka, Jamese and Mariah; and her caring doctor at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Hetty Caraway; her assistant nurse, Angelica Suttles; Dr. John Graham at the Blood and Cancer Center in Canfield; and PCP Dr. Alysia Zeigler.

Friends will be received 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Davidson-Becker Funeral Home in Struthers.

Another hour of calling will be held 10 until 10:45 a.m. Friday at Christ Our Savior Parish-St. Nicholas Church, followed immediately by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m.

She will be laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery.

The family suggests everyone dress their best in purple for the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Susie’s honor to Golden String, 32 Fifth Ave., Youngstown, OH 44503.

Please visit www.beckerobits.com to send the family condolences and share your memories.

(special notice)