Susan Louise BLAKE

Susan Louise Blake Susan Blake of Saskatoon, aged 62, died peacefully in the Palliative Care Ward of St. Paul's Hospital on October 28th, 2009. Susan was born on November 30, 1946 in Milford, Connecticut where many of her family still live. She was educated at Brown University (A.B., A.M.) and the University of Connecticut (Ph.D.). From 1974 to 2006 she was a member of the Department of English at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, rising to the rank of full professor and head of department. She retired in 2006 and moved to Saskatoon to be with her husband, Gordon DesBrisay, after fourteen years of commuting between Pennsylvania and Saskatchewan. Susan was an accomplished scholar who published widely in the fields of African-American literature and travel literature. She was a fine writer and a dedicated teacher. She loved photography, gardening, traveling, playing the piano, cooking, entertaining friends, and walking Kita and Daisy. She was devoted to her family and friends. She was welcoming and inclusive, generous and open-hearted, self-effacing yet forthright. And she was brave. Diagnosed in May with pancreatic cancer, she made the most of her remaining time. Gordon would like to thank Susan's wide circle of Saskatoon friends for their extraordinary love and support expressed in many dimensions of our lives. He would also like to thank every single health professional and staff member Susan encountered in Home Care, Palliative Home Care, the Cancer Centre, and at St. Paul's Hospital. With special thanks to everyone on the Palliative Care Ward of St. Paul's. Under their creative care and unlimited compassion Susan really LIVED as she approached death. Susan is survived by her loving husband Gordon DesBrisay, her father Richard Blake, brother Bruce (Anne), nephew Ben (Sandy), niece Marin (Max), nephew Ted, mother-in-law Joyce, brotherin-law Stuart, and sister-in-law Janet (Greg). A Celebration of Susan's life will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 2:00 pm at Acadia-McKague's Funeral Centre, 915 Acadia Drive. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Canadian Harambee Education Society (http:/ / www.canadianharambee.ca/ ) or the St. Paul's Hospital Foundation (1702-20th Street West, Saskatoon, SK S7M 0Z9). Arrangements are in care of Tammy Ferrier ACADIA-MCKAGUES FUNERAL CENTRE 955-1600. logo Published in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix from 11/2/2009 - 11/6/2009