Susan Teressa Houghton

She came into this world on April 9, 1941, as Susan Teressa Fitzgerald, in San Jose, California. She left us on July 12, 2020, as Mom, Grandma, Nana, Nini, Aunt Sue, sister, friend, and so much more. She is survived by her three children, Rissa Stuart (Don), Brett Houghton (Jaymi) and Lori Crissinger (Robert); four granddaughters, Samantha Seargeant, Amber Houghton, Karissa Houghton and Kylie Houghton and one great granddaughter Izzy. She was predeceased in 2010 by her grandson Ryan Houghton.

She was smart, kind, fierce, compassionate, patient, stubborn, independent and loving. She was a mom first, waiting until her kids completed high school to pursue her dream of becoming a registered nurse. Her favorite job and some of her closest friends were made either in nursing school or while working as a Neonatal Intensive Care nurse at Pomona Valley Hospital. She loved caring for the babies and their families. If Sue was your friend, she was a friend for life. She loved sewing and quilting, but more importantly she loved getting together with her weekly quilting group to talk, snack and sew, most likely in that order. Monthly breakfast with her Rowland Heights’ friends was a favorite. She had a strength that helped her endure and overcome the many challenges in her life, which taught each of us perseverance and independence. She taught us the importance of family and that family was not reserved only for relatives, but included beloved friends. She loved participating in the lives of her children and grandchildren and you would find her at all tennis, baseball, basketball, softball, water polo, swimming, band or school events they were in. She celebrated all of life’s accomplishments with her family. Every holiday, birthday or achievement deserved a party or at least some homemade cake or cookies. She was always there when you needed her, but was reluctant to accept help from others. She never met a stranger and had a gift for gab. You needed more than a minute if you were going to call mom. It is with great sadness that we say goodbye, but she left a piece of herself in the heart of all who knew her. She will be missed by many.

Services will be held at Whitehurst McNamara, Hanford, California, on July 23, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., by invitation, due to COVID-19 limitations; followed by a private graveside service at Grangeville Cemetery in Armona, CA. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Kings County SPCA or a charitable organization of your choice.

Funeral Service
Whitehurst-McNamara Funeral Service
Thursday, July 23, 2020
10:00 AM
100 Bush St
Hanford, California 93230

Graveside Service
Grangeville Cemetery
Thursday, July 23, 2020
10428 14th Ave
Armona, California 93202

Private Burial

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