Susan Sarah Jane Lewis was born on the 30th June 1958 in Ronkswood hospital Worcester. Her natural mother abandoned her at the hospital, but Sue was Quickly adopted by Peter and Doreen who became her new adoptive parents. Sue’s first years were lived out in Malvern where Peter her father worked for the ministry at the local Radar Establishment. Later the family moved to Salisbury when Peter was transferred to working at Boscombe Down Research establishment. Sue, (as she was liked to be called) grew up in Salisbury and although a bit of a rebellious teenager when at school, wanted to follow in her mums footsteps and become a Nanny. Her very first job after leaving school was working as a Nanny looking after a number of children. Unfortunately, the family she worked for treated her appallingly and Sue had to return home. Sue soon got a job in Salisbury selling everything from fine china to garden tools. Sue loved horses and could often be seen out riding or cleaning out stables. Sue became involved in the Scouting movement as a Girl Guide and also was part of the local Anglican Church youth group, where she became a committed Christian. Her desire to work with children led Sue to apply for an Assistant House Parent position in a boarding School in Reigate, Surrey. It was here that she had a meeting with a man whom she told her friend was the “man I am going to marry”…and little did he know it at that time, he was to become her husband on August the 6th 1983. Michael and Sue, then both deputy House Parents, lived in a small flat in a boarding house with 50 teenage girls! Sue had become an assistant Cub Scout leader at the School and later continued in this role in Malvern, when in 1987 she and Michael took the decision to move full time to be nearer her mum and dad. They had no work to go to, but after much prayer and discussion handed in their notice and left the School. Sue and Michael wanted a family, but even with the most up to date science, were unable to have children. Much time was taken up going to hospitals and undergoing test after test, but all seemed impossible. When in Malvern, Sue with Michael became deeply committed and involved in the Catholic Community and it was here that Sue joined the Catholic family. Sadly, after three happy years of living in Malvern, Sue’s mum developed cancer and died in 1989. Sue was devastated at the loss. However, in 1990 her mourning was turned to joy at the birth of Stephen Joseph. Michael applied for a transfer from Malvern Hills District Council, to Hastings Borough Council and in November 1990 the three of them moved to Bexhill-on-Sea. Here they were further blessed in 1992 and 1994 with the births of Daniel James and Nathaniel Peter. Sue was a devoted mother and spent her energy on caring for her “four boys”, as she would often say. She very rarely spent any money on herself and lavished the little she earned on everyone other than herself. Sue took up delivering and collecting orders from the local estate and cleaning caravans on Saturday mornings, whilst Michael looked after the boys at home. Later she worked as a catering assistant at Bexhill High School. Sue’s love for Scouting soon got her back into the local group of the 3rd Bexhill, St Michael’s. Here she became a Cub Scout leader and last year, took up the role of Group Scout Leader for the 3rd. Her love of scouting was infectious and Stephen, Daniel and Nathan soon got caught up in her loving enthusiasm for the “Scouting Family”. Michael couldn’t escape Sue’s organisation skills and would act as her secretary as Sue suffered with Dyslexia and said she would do the maths (which Michael couldn’t) and he would do the English bits. Now that’s called a marriage partnership! Sadly, Sue developed a problem with the electrical impulses of her heart, which make the heart pump correctly, and in 2002 had some very disconcerting turns when her heart would stop for some seconds before starting again, by itself. It was suggested that when in her teens she had been horse riding and fell, with the horse falling on her. Without her realising it, the fall and impact of the horse on her chest, had damaged her heart. From further investigations, it would seem that some damage had occurred to her heart at this time, but as Sue had an extreme dislike of doctors, she had put up with the pain and had just got on with life. Sue never really complained even when unwell and always kept on going. Maybe that’s what all real mums do? Sue went to sleep in Christ just as she had wanted to, next to her beloved husband Michael. The two of them had often spoken about dying and the music you hear today was what Sue had wanted at her funeral. Sue didn’t’ want a lot of fuss and expense, in fact she would have been happy to be buried in the garden in a cardboard box. Sue had a simple and trusting faith in Jesus, she wasn’t the heady theologian but the simple believer. When Michael would fret about finances or the mortgage, Sue would calmly tell him, “trust in the Lord, He has never let us down.” Sue would be overwhelmed “gobsmacked” at the many cards, letters visits, calls and beautiful actions of so many friends, who have shown their love for her and her family. To sum up Sue’s life in a few words is very difficult. She was a daughter, a wife, a mother, a friend. I think just some words she often said to her children and husband may be all we can offer. “If you can’t say anything nice…don’t say anything at all” and “Remember, we are a family; I may not always like what you do, but I will always love you.”