Suzanne M. Gill

Suzanne Marie Gill, age 74, passed away peacefully at home, with her family by her side, on December 19, 2024 and is now home with the Lord.

Her family and friends called her Sue. She was born in Harrisburg, PA and her family soon moved to Akron, OH where she grew up through high school. While working at a local drug store, she met her lifetime love, John. They married and started their family, first living in Hawaii as part of John’s military deployment and then returning to Cuyahoga Falls, OH. Later she resided in Uniontown, OH, Hartville, OH, and finally in North Canton, OH for the past 28 years.

Sue always dreamed of becoming a nurse, and she proudly fulfilled that dream, dedicating 35 years to her nursing career. Balancing raising a family and seeking her dream, she began her journey in 1980, attending the Akron School of Practical Nursing and earning her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) degree. This sparked an extraordinary journey of service, mentorship, and leadership that enriched the lives of countless people.

Nurses are often seen as angels in training, embodying selflessness, compassion, and tireless dedication to bringing comfort and healing to those in need. Sue exemplified these qualities through her profound compassion, steadfast commitment to patient care, and remarkable ability to stay calm under pressure.

Over the course of her career, Sue continued her education to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to become a Registered Nurse and later a Master of Science degree in Nursing (MSN), both from The University of Akron. She was a licensed Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) and received a Nurse Executive, Advanced Certification (NEA-BC). All with the purpose of advancing her journey of service.

Sue served as chairperson of the search committee for the executive director of the Community AIDS Network. She performed extensive research on the care of AIDS patients. Her findings have been published in professional nursing journals, and she has presented at conferences in the United States and Canada. In her later years, she served on multiple committees supporting programs for the Akron/Canton Area Agency on Aging.

Professionally, her career was focused on patient care and management. Her tenure spanned various local health care systems, including Akron City Hospital (Summa Health Systems), Akron General Hospital, Healthhaven Nursing Home, and Edwin Shaw Rehabilitation Hospital. She retired from Western Reserve Hospital as Vice President Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer in 2015. 

Sue’s personal life was even more extraordinary than her remarkable nursing career. She will be lovingly remembered as an incredible wife, a devoted mother, a caring grandmother, a kind sister and daughter, and a cherished friend. Sue’s unwavering concern for others and her gift for listening with empathy brought comfort and understanding to everyone she met. Her boundless compassion was matched by her optimism, as she always saw the best in every situation and in every person, inspiring those around her to do the same.

In the last years, Sue faced her illness with remarkable courage and remained entirely selfless, always putting other’s feelings, thoughts, and needs above her own. It was her true nature. Sue and the family were especially grateful for all the care she received from the nurses, doctors, assistants, and support staff at all the hospitals, treatment centers, and hospice.

She enjoyed vacationing at Myrtle Beach and in recent years, spent as much as a month at a time, several times a year enjoying the beach. She particularly enjoyed attending the grandchildren’s sporting events, plays, concerts, and school programs. She found great joy sitting on her porch or patio and walking in the neighborhood with John.

Sue is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, John O. Gill; children, John K. (Diane) Gill and Marianne (Andrew) Straley; grandchildren, Tyler (Justine) Straley, Hannah (Kyle) Dotson, Zachary (Ximena) Straley, Emily Straley, and Mallory Straley; great-grandchild Greysen Straley; mother, Doris Costello; brother, Jeffrey (Andrea) Costello; sister, Sandee (Robert) Costello; sister-in-law, Rebecca Bulgrin; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her father, Thomas Costello; father-in-law and mother-in-law, John L. and Evelyn Gill; and brother, Timothy Costello. 

A Celebration of Life honoring Sue will be held in Spring 2025, her favorite time of the year, to remember, honor, and celebrate her extraordinary spirit and share special memories.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Stewart’s Caring Place (https://stewartscaringplace.org) or a charity of your choice.

Sue brought love, kindness, and strength to all who knew her, leaving an indelible mark on all the lives she touched. May her memory continue to inspire us all to live with the same grace and generosity she so effortlessly shared.

“Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” – Proverbs 31:31 NIV