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Susan Crawford Quirk | 69
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Susan Crawford Quirk, 69, passed away in State College, Pennsylvania on August 25, 2023. Susie was the first child of the late Virgil and Gail Quirk of St. Marys. She was preceded in death by them and by her brother Alex. She is survived by her sisters: Betsy (Tom) Wood of Timnath, Colorado, Caroline (Mark) Flacinski of St. Marys, Sally (Dan) Mills of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Nancy (Alan) Cameron of State College; along with 10 grandnieces and grandnephews; and six great-grandnephews and great grandnieces.
“Susie” was born in Owensboro, Kentucky, on January 9, 1954. She was born with tuberous sclerosis and the effects left her with profound intellectual disabilities. The cause of her difficulties was never known until recent DNA testing. By the time she was six years of age, she required around-the-clock care and went to live at St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, PA.
Susie loved music — her favorite song was “Jingle Bells.” She loved when her mother and father called her “Susie Q” and she would take their heads between her hands and draw their faces close to hers, smiling from ear to ear. She got excited about riding in cars, taking walks, going to the mall, fiber optics, her recliner and television. When she was young she enjoyed riding on merry-go-rounds at the playground and walking or playing in the snow. She had friends in her homes whose names she responded to for many years after she left them. She loved being around all people, but her favorites were her mother and father, her great aunt Marion who was known by all the family as “Yummie”, and her siblings, especially her brother Alex. Because she was non-verbal, she depended on people who were sensitive to her needs and everyone knew she would growl if you did something she didn’t want you to do. To know Susie was to love her and everyone in her life did.
Susie’s life brought special blessings to her family, to the many people who cared for her directly and to those who were helped through the many volunteer works done in her honor.
The family wishes to send their abundant gratitude to the sisters of St. Mary of Providence Center, and to the staffs of Ebensburg State Center in Ebensburg, Dickinson Center in Ridgway and Strawberry Fields in State College.
Funeral and committal services will be held at a later date and time to be announced.
Memorials to Susie’s life may be made in her name to: TSCAlliance.org or tuberous-sclerosis.org.
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My sincere condolences to Susie’s family. I worked at Oak Manor for many years with your Mom Gail. She always had pleasant and funny stories about Susie. She was certainly very fortunate to have a loving family
Nancy, Cameron and Quirk families. Please accept our heartfelt condolences on the loss of your Susie.
So sorry to hear of the passing of SusieQ. She was such a great person to have and a joy to have taken care. I’m grateful I had her in my life.
Caroline and family….I am not sure you remember me,but I worked with you at O.V. Elem. some years ago. I was very sad to read about your “Susie”. What a very heartfelt story of her life. With love and prayers and blessings to you during this difficult time. Heaven has surely gained an angel.
Gone but not forgotten. I worked with her in the group home, she always put a smile on my face.