September 14, 1954 - April 16, 2011

Forever in our Hearts

Susan Rae Vreen was called home April 16th, 2011, after a long battle with cancer. She is now resting peacefully, free from pain, and is already missed tremendously by her family and friends. Susan was a strong woman, who will be most remembered as our hero, protector, the leader of our family and most of all, a fighter. We will miss her beautiful smile, gorgeous eyes and amazing personality.

Susan was born on September 14th, 1954, to Frank and Beverly Paul, in Minneapolis, MN. After high school she enlisted into the US Army where she was stationed in Stuttgart, Germany and spent the next 4 years. While there Susan met her husband Earl, and gave birth to her oldest child James. In 1978, she was stationed in El Paso, TX and had a daughter, LaTanya. After 4 years in the Army, Susan left active duty and stayed on as an active reservist. In 1985, Susan relocated to Minnesota where she would be closer to family. In 1989 she and her family returned to El Paso, TX. Then in 1990, she was reactivated to active duty and was sent to the Gulf War where she spent the next year in Iraq. Later she returned to the states and moved herself and her family to Spokane, WA.

Susan worked as an active reservist for another year and then was honorably discharged. After her military career, Susan worked as an assistant manager of a local convenient store and a QA rep for a local cell phone company. Due to a stroke in 2005, she was unable to carry on her position as a QA rep and she then moved to Mesa, AZ where she would spend the next two years with her younger sister Sandie.

In 2007, she moved to Everett, WA to live with her daughter. Susan’s hobbies included, playing on the computer. Facebook was her favorite web page. She loved spending time with her family and her dog Shadow. Wherever Susan went, Shadow was sure to go. She loved to spend hours upon hours outside. A few of her favorite shows were WWE, Soap Operas and Nascar. You wouldn’t dare bother her during the car races, unless it had something to do with the race. She would always call her mom, and they would talk on the phone and watch it together.

On April 16, 2011, Susan lost her battle to cancer and passed away with her daughter at her side. Our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and friend, will be forever missed and always in our hearts.

We would like to remember her with her favorite Bible passage.

Psalms 23:

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Susan is survived by her children, James (Cortnee) Vreen, of Cheney, WA and LaTanya Vreen, of Everett, WA; husband, Earl Vreen; her mother, Beverly Strandness; and siblings, Debbie Solberg, Sandie (Bill) Dearman, Kim Mason, Darrell Strandness and Pam Gossett; many nieces and nephews; grandchildren, Phala and Alena Richie, Sadie, Jasmine and Adrianna Vreen.

She is preceded in death by her grandson, Jason Vreen; nephew, John Rohloff; father, Frank Paul; and many other family members.

Many thanks:

The entire family would like to thank Providence Cancer Care Partnership, Providence Hospice Everett and Millennia HealthCare for all their support, thoughtfulness and compassion through this sad and trying time. Words will never express fully our gratitude for each and every one of you.

FUNERAL INFORMATION

Susan will have a Military Honors service at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, WA. On May 5, 2011 at 11:00am.

Memorial

Taps

There will be a great encampment
In the land of clouds today.
A mingling and a merging
Of our boys who've gone away.
Though on earth they are disbanding,
They are very close and near,
For these brave and honored heroes
Show no sorrow, shed no tear.
They have lived a life of glory,
History pins their medals high,
Listen to the thunder rolling,
They are marching in the sky!

Art Nottingham Chappius

The Twenty-Third Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; They rod and Thy staff comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.