Obituary of Suzie Ann Clark

Rochester, NY-formerly of High Springs, Fl.  Suzie passed away on April 1, 2022, at the age of 82.  She is predeceased by her sister, Karla Shatzer.  She is survived by her daughter, Monica (Frank) Jenks, 4 granddaughters, Heather (Matthew) Barry, Nicole Jenks, Melissa Jenks and Amber (Caitlin) Kennedy, 5 great grandchildren, Skylar, Zachary, Jayden, Olivia and Natalie, sister, Julie (Ian) Butler, brother, Art Clark, 3 nephews, 1 niece and many dear friends. 

Suzie Ann Clark was born on December 3, 1938 to her beloved parents Dr. George E. Clark and Louise I. Clark. She had two sisters and a brother. 

Suzie graduated high school  in 1957 from Kenmoore West in Buffalo, NY. From there she went on to graduate in  1961 From Buffalo State Teachers College with a bachelors degree in home economics. 

Some time after she had returned to school for a degree in recreation and gerontology from Brockport College. 

During her college years, Suzie married and became a mother to her only child, Monica. 

Suzie worked in a variety of jobs including Western NY child care and Catholic Family center at Holy Cross and St. Michaels. Suzie  was Girl Scout leader and paid Girl Scout who taught women how to be Girl Scout leaders. She was also an 

Inspector of day camps and camps. She worked at the Strong Museum constructing exhibits as well as teaching recreation at St John Fisher College for over 20 years. 

As if Suzie’s career and being a mother wasn’t busy enough, in 1969 her farm was the first Licensed organic farm in Orleans county.  Suzie was a very talented folk musician, who played a variety of instruments including the Hammer dulcimer, auto harp, mountain dulcimer, and the spoons.

In 1971 Suzie started the Turtle Hill Folk Festival, which just celebrated its 50th year in 2021. Suzie was very proud to be in attendance for the 50th year anniversary of this festival. Turtle Hill got its name because it was first held on her farm behind the garage where there was a hill and on the top of that hill, it looked like a turtle. Thus how the turtle hill folk festival was born. 

For over 20 years Suzie was a member of the Golden Eagle String Band and during that time the band worked on 5 records, 2 videos, 1 tap, 2 song books and a CD. The band had a national recording contract with Folkways Records and two of their records are now part of the American History Museum at the Smithsonian Institution. 

As a life long learner, in 1992 Suzie decided to go back to college. This time for a degree in Massage.  Suzie then moved to Highsprings and in 1995 she opened the Wellness Spa of High Springs, an alternative to a day spa. While In High Springs, Suzie served on the board of  High Springs Parks and Recreation and City Council for many years. Suzie was also a member of the League of Women Voters. She was an advocate and believed that if you wanted to make change,  then you needed to be involved, be educated, and to vote. 

In her free time, Suzie loved sewing, quilting, cross stitching, and working on anything involving fabric. Suzie was a member of the Tri-City Quilters Guild. Suzie loved to make clothes. Each year for Christmas she would make her granddaughters  all sorts of clothes including vests, shirts, and sweaters. She also loved to make humbug bags, mug rugs, and cross stitched bookmarks. 

She also loved to garden and compost. She could grow some amazing strawberries that her grandkids loved to eat. She had a large coy fish pond that made her garden extra special.  Suzie also made Faberge eggs and built furniture. 

Suzie also loved to exercise. If she wasn’t out taking a walk along the beach collecting drift wood, she was taking a Zumba class. She was a member of the Yellow Belly Sliders Bicycle Club. 

As everyone knows, Suzie loved “Pussy Cats”. For years she would gather up feral cats and have them spayed/neutered. Many of the cats stayed to become her own. Some of her favorite cats over the years included Miss Midnight, Miss Lizzy, Lewis, and her beautiful, Leelou. 

Suzie was a very proud GiGi to her “gang” (her grandchild and great grandchildren). She would often sign I love you and give hugs and kisses. 

Suzie aways had a smile on her face and loved to laugh and joke. Suzie will be deeply missed by both her family and her friends. 

“My 4 F’s keep me going. Family, friends, fabric, and felines” - Suzie Ann Clark

Family and friends are invited to call at Jennings, Nulton & Mattle Funeral Home, 1704 Penfield Road, Penfield, on Thursday, April 7 from 5-8 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, kindly consider donations to Lollypop Farm in her memory.