Susan Ruth Gillett (nee Crampton) passed away on July 30, 2023, after a battle with cancer. Susan was born May 21, 1961, at the Gravelbourg Hospital, and grew up on her family's farm near Woodrow, SK. As a child, teen, and young adult, she was active in Girl Guides and figure skating, both as a skater and as a coach in several small towns in South-Central Saskatchewan. She attended Woodrow School, then Lafleche School, and took her grade 12 at A E Peacock Collegiate in Moose Jaw. After that, she studied Business for a year at Saskatchewan Technical Institute. Later, she earned a diploma in Interior Design and moved to Saskatoon in 1982 to be with her boyfriend Doug. She worked at Clark's Interiors and Roman Marble as an interior decorator/designer. Susan and Doug were married in 1983 on her 22nd birthday. In 1985, when she was pregnant with Kurt, they moved back to Moose Jaw to raise their family closer to their parents. With the birth of Kurt in 1985 and Trish in 1987, she became a full-time, and devoted, homemaker and mother. Susan often said her children were her pride and joy and she was very proud of their accomplishments. After the kids left home, she returned to the workforce, doing retail sales for several small businesses in Moose Jaw. In Spring 2012 she stopped working in order to move to Saskatoon for Doug's cancer treatment, and to support him during his recovery. They returned to Moose Jaw in July 2013, but his full recovery took several more years. She had three grandchildren: James (2019), Natsumi (2021), and Ayla (2022). Susan treasured every moment with them.
Susan was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and granddaughter. She had many friends, mainly because she was always ready to help anybody who needed help. She was an active member of several bowling leagues, and a founding member of a writer's group in the late 1980's that still meets regularly today. She enjoyed crafts, gardening, camping, and fishing. She also enjoyed playing cards and other games. Her interior design training and knowledge of construction and gardening served her well in the many renovations and improvements made to her family home, garden, and yard.
Susan adored gardening and shared both her deep expertise and the fruits of her efforts with everyone around her. It was a year-round hobby, with winters spent deep in research and planning. Her gardening practice was ever-evolving, and over the last decade she was proud of accomplishments like growing all her seedlings indoors under lights, expanding her garden, and establishing climate-hardy fruit bushes and vines all around the yard.
Susan was predeceased by her parents, Florence and Jim Crampton of Woodrow and later of Moose Jaw, and grandparents, Violet and George Crampton, who lived on the farm with her and her parents and also later resided in Moose Jaw. She is survived by Doug, her husband of 41 years; son Kurt (Shara) Gillett and their children James and Ayla; daughter Trish (Junpei) Gillett-Kawamoto and their daughter Natsumi; brother Ross (Maxine) Crampton; sister Joanne (Darrell Gaudet) Crampton.
Susan's family wish to express their deep appreciation of Dr. Kimberly Higgins, Dr. Andre Coleman, the staff of Moose Jaw Home Care and Palliative Care, and the staff of the Medical Unit, F. H. Wigmore Regional Hospital, Moose Jaw. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Moose Jaw Health Foundation in Susan's name would be appreciated.
A Celebration of Susan’s Life will be held at the Eagles Club, 561 Home St W, Moose Jaw from 2:00 to 5:00 PM on Thursday, August 3, 2023. Words of tribute will begin at 2:30. Anyone who has a story or fond memory they would like to share is welcome to do so. A private interment will take place at a later date. In living memory of Susan, a memorial planting will be made by W.J. Jones & Son Ltd. Please sign the memorial register at website: www.wjjonesandson.com (Obituaries). Blake Seebach- Funeral Director
