Susan Leslie Smithe

Susan L. Smithe, age 82, of Deer Park, Illinois passed away on January 6, 2025 in Barrington, Illinois, surrounded by her family. She had been battling multiple myeloma cancer for 3 ½ years and died of complications from RSV.

Born on November 16, 1942 in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, Susan was the daughter of the late Dr. Arthur and Marie (Jarvi) Van Duser. She was raised in Madison, Wisconsin and attended Edgewood High School. She received a degree in Elementary Education from Edgewood College, with a minor in English in 1964. She graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans, with a Master’s Degree in Education in 1965.

Susan was fiercely independent and traveled the world in her twenties. She lived and worked in many places including New Orleans, San Francisco, Honolulu, and Rome, Italy. Rome was her favorite city to live in, and she always had a love for the Italian way of life. She was also an animal lover, and at around the age of 28 while in Chicago, she met the love of her life, Dr. Alan Smithe, a veterinarian. It was love at first sight, and even though she was supposed to leave for a long trip touring around Asia a couple of days later, she decided to cancel her trip so that she could get to know him.

Susan ended up staying in Chicago, getting married, and managing her husband’s animal hospital until her two beautiful daughters were born. She enjoyed taking care of her children and the many cats and dogs that they had over the years. She donated time and money to many animal foundations. Amongst other things, she really loved being in nature. When her children were young, Susan planned yearly trips for the family to go to Colorado to take in the beautiful scenery, which the whole family loved very much. Susan enjoyed gardening and planted beautiful flowers and bushes to attract humming birds and butterflies to the yard. Additionally, she enjoyed reading and keeping up with world affairs. In her later years, she was blessed with one bright, funny, and sweet grandson who filled her heart with joy.

Susan was the pillar of her family and showed unwavering love, support, and kindness through the most difficult of times. She rarely complained even towards the end of her life when her family knew she was suffering and in a lot of pain. She was incredibly brave and strong throughout her illness, a true “warrior” who inspired her family. She had a sweet voice and rarely spoke unkindly about anyone. Her family feels so lucky to have had this wonderful woman as a wife, mother, and grandmother. She will always be in their thoughts and forever in their hearts.

Her survivors include her husband, Dr. Alan Smithe of Deer Park, Illinois; her daughters, Jennie (Michele) Panzeri of Deerfield, Illinois and Anjelica Smithe of Deer Park, Illinois; her brother, John (Larissa) Van Duser of Southampton, New York; and her sole grandson, Alessandro Panzeri of Deerfield, Illinois.

Funeral Services were held on January 17, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin, with all of Susan’s immediate family in attendance.

In honor of Susan and in lieu of flowers, you may donate to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. https://themmrf.org/?campaign=470475

Please share your memories of Susan by posting in her Guestbook.

Cress Funeral Service

3610 Speedway Road, Madison

(608) 238-3434