Susan (Sue) Pierce Cramer
COLCHESTER: Susan (Sue) Pierce Cramer, a lifelong area resident passed away with her family at her side on Wednesday, March 6th, 2024, at the McClure-Miller Respite House.
Born in St. Albans, VT, on December 18th, 1970, she was the daughter of the late Robin and Marilyn (Duprey) Pierce. Sue was 53 years old.
On August 26th, 2000, at the Georgia Plain Baptist Church, she married Andrew Cramer, who survives her.
On January 2nd, 2011, Sue and Andrew were blessed with their daughter, Marah Lyn Gabriel Cramer. Marah Lyn was the miracle Sue prayed for; all she wanted in life was to be a mom. She spent her entire life dedicated to that little girl. She was so very proud of her and admired the beautiful young woman she had become.
Sue was a 1988 graduate of Milton High School. She was involved in many school activities and had many friendships, including a group that she is still close with today. She went to cosmetology school and worked as a hairdresser in the Georgia, VT community for many years. At the age of 25, Sue was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. When faced with this diagnosis she was determined to live her life to the fullest and prove that she was going to beat the odds on a life-long disease.
Sue loved to travel and when her health dictated a career change, she knew that the travel industry was perfect for her. She was employed by Child Travel in Colchester, VT for numerous years. Sue wore many hats, but her specialty was Disney vacations. She was a graduate of the Disney Academy and loved to plan Disney vacations for not only her family but others as well. She worked for a few years at PayData in Colchester, VT but missed working in the travel industry. Sue most recently worked as a travel liaison for Options Travel, based in Chicago, IL. Sue made lifelong friends all along the way. To her, her coworkers were like her second family.
Sue grew up attending Georgia Plain Baptist Church. She was a member of the Hope and Georgia Plain Cemetery Associations and for three years, Sue coached the Milton Varsity Cheerleading squad which she enjoyed immensely.
Sue loved the sun and the beach. Any chance she had to vacation, she desired to go to the beaches in Florida or take a Caribbean cruise. She also loved being at the family lake house at Georgia Shore on Lake Champlain. Many summers were spent there admiring and splashing in the water, watching the sunsets, and making memories with the special community of neighbors.
Later in life, Sue was diagnosed with diabetes and kidney disease. Like her other diagnoses, she was determined to fight these battles as well. She learned to live with these and was a trooper, determined not to let them interfere in her life. As the kidney disease progressed, she learned that she would need a kidney transplant. She was active on the living/deceased donor transplant list at Mass General Hospital in Boston. Two years ago, the disease progressed enough that she required dialysis, and still was hoping for that ultimate gift of a kidney donation.
Survivors include her husband of 23 years, Andrew Cramer and their daughter Marah Lyn Cramer; Sue’s sister, Deborah Pierce Merchant and her husband, David, all from Colchester, VT. She also leaves behind Anthony Pelissier and his wife Michelle, who was like a brother to the Pierce family, and their son Alex, from Kannapolis, NC.
Sue’s family would like to thank all the doctors and nursing staff at UVM Medical Center who took such great care of her during her final weeks. They would especially like to thank Dr. Brenden Ferraro MD and his team, the Palliative Care team, and the nursing staff on Miller 6. They would also like to thank the staff at McClure Miller Respite House for the wonderful care they provided.
Sue’s family would also like to thank the numerous family/friends who have rallied around them and supported them at this time, especially Martha Bechard, Kristina Senna, and Karly Merchant.
Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Thursday, March 14th, 2024, from 5 – 7 pm at the Heald Funeral Home, 87 So. Main Street, St. Albans, VT. A service of remembrance will follow at 7 pm at the Funeral Home.
Sue’s family asks that in her memory, please consider giving the ultimate gift of being an organ donor, or a memorial gift made in her honor to the McClure-Miller Respite House, 1110 Prim Road, Colchester, VT 05446
Honored to be serving the family of Sue Cramer is Rett Heald at Heald Funeral Home, where messages of condolences are welcome at www.healdfuneralhome.com
