Pawnpana Harshman

Susie was a dear, sweet soul and one of the most remarkable women I have ever known.

She was born and raised in northern Thailand in a Catholic family. Her childhood was not easy. There were seven of us—six girls and one boy. Our oldest sister, Intawa, was unable to carry family responsibilities, so when our mother died and our father had to travel from city to city looking for work, Susie stepped into a role no child should have to carry. There were many hungry days and nights. Some relatives closed their doors to us, and life was often uncertain.

Susie had to grow up fast. She became strong and resilient because she had no other choice. Yet beneath that strength was a thoughtful heart and a quiet determination. She cared deeply for the people she loved and always looked out for their well-being. She approached life carefully and thoughtfully, rarely making decisions without considering all sides. She was cautious and practical, yet kind and dependable. She stood up for herself and would not allow others to take advantage of her, earning the respect of those who knew her.

When Susie came to the United States, it was a tremendous change—from the rice fields and water buffaloes of northern Thailand to watching America’s space program on television. She especially loved following the astronauts and the excitement of space exploration. She was proud to be an American and never missed a single vote.

Her first job was working in a daycare center, where her English improved dramatically. Later, she joined a microelectronics assembly factory, where she excelled and quickly broke production records. She was hardworking, capable, and determined to succeed.

One story captures Susie’s personality perfectly. Her supervisor’s name was Ned. One day she came home from work absolutely furious and said, “I wish Ned was a chicken.” Curious, I asked her why. Without missing a beat, she replied, “I would buy that sucker and cook him!” It was such a practical Susie solution that it still makes me smile today.

To me, Susie was the most beautiful little woman I had ever seen. But her true beauty came from her strength, courage, devotion, and love for others. She helped carry our family through some of its hardest times and made sacrifices that gave the rest of us opportunities for a better life.

I love her with all my heart. Thank you, dear wife, sister, and aunt for everything you did for our family, for your strength, your example, and for helping to give us the lives we have today.

We will be forever grateful.

Rest in peace, Susie. You were deeply loved, and you will be deeply missed.