Obituary of Susanne “Susie” Verna GIBSON SIEVERS

June 2, 1948 – Toronto, Ontario

December 14, 2019 – Calgary, Alberta

Susie beloved wife of Marc Sievers of Calgary, AB, passed away quietly on Saturday, December 14, 2019 at the age of 71 years.

Susie Gibson was born on June 2, 1948 in Toronto, ON. She was the first child of Verna and Lorne Gibson. Susie grew up in Etobicoke and attended both elementary and secondary schools there. She completed her high school degree at Alma College and went on to graduate from the Chamberlain School of Retailing, a junior college in Boston, in the late 1960s. With her striking red hair and vibrant personality she was popular with her fellow students and made friends easily: some of whom are still friends to this day.

After a brief stint in retail working for Simpson’s department store she made a career transition to media sales working for Toronto Life magazine, the Toronto Sun in its earliest days and briefly for TV Guide. Susie was a natural salesperson using her empathy, wits, and creative enthusiasm to woo clients.

In 1979, she was introduced to Marc Sievers by a mutual friend. Marc and Susie discovered that they shared a number of interests, including skating, design and food. They were engaged in July of 1980 and married that October. The early 1980s were a difficult economic time but the couple bought a house in Leaside and Susie’s income allowed Marc to start his own business. By the late 1980s Susie made another career change. At the suggestion of her father she became Sales Manager at Gibson Textile Dyers Ltd., a firm started by her grandfather. After her father’s death in 1993, Susie took on additional executive responsibilities with the company.

In 1995, Marc was presented with the opportunity of a senior position in San Francisco and the couple moved to the town of Walnut Creek, California. The following ten years were a golden period for Susie. Free of the need to work she took full advantage, joining the Orinda Women’s Club and becoming involved in charitable activities. It also brought her a new set of female friends and an opportunity to take a leadership role which she enjoyed. She was Chairwoman for the Club’s Festival of Trees fundraiser in a year that set a new record for ticket sales.

After a brush with cancer in 2004, Susie decided that she wanted to be closer to her family so she and Marc moved back to Canada and chose Calgary where her sister lived. This gave her the opportunity to see her niece grow up and be near her ageing mother. The ten years to 2015 were filled with travel to Europe, Asia and Australia with frequent visits back to California.

Susie was a very caring and social person who liked to bring people together for fun events. She was considerate. She made sure that her parents were well cared for as they aged. Her interests included art, architecture and holding politicians to account. She was a loyal and supportive big sister who set a great example.

In 2014, Susie was diagnosed with a heart condition that curtailed her mobility. It didn’t slow her down completely, however, and she continued to make new friends and build relationships. Sadly, her health continued to decline over the next four years making her enjoyment of life more tenuous. She underwent successful cancer treatment this spring but suffered from subsequent complications. After a long and full life Susie passed away quietly on Saturday, December 14.

Susie will be sorely missed by Marc, her loving husband of thirty-nine years, sister Barbara, brother-in-law Rob, niece Robyn (Trevor), cousins, Gary (Toni), Linda, Leanne (Larry),Tricia, Paul (Debbie); and her many friends in Canada and US.

A Celebration of Susie’s Life will be held in January of 2020. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Susanne’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

A tree will be planted in living memory of Susanne Gibson-Sievers.  McInnis and Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive S.W., Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.