Obituaries

Our beloved wife, mom and grandma, Susan Mary Bergmann, passed away peacefully on October 27, 2022, surrounded by family.

Susan was born and lived in Seattle her whole life. She attended St. John Catholic School and Blanchet High School (1960),  where she was active in cheerleading, honor society, student government and much more. Her mom was the CYO Camp Director, and Susie spent many summers as a camper, counselor and water safety instructor.

After a year at the University of Hawaii , where she developed her lifetime love of Maui’s sun and sea, she returned to Seattle and reconnected with the love of her life, John Bergmann. She had developed a crush on him when he played on the St. John’s soccer team with her older brother, and she married him in 1963.

In early marriage, she worked as a teacher at St. John’s, and later at KIRO, working mainly on the JP Patches show.

Susie and John have three children and will forever be role models in parenting and marriage.  She was the ultimate mom figure not only to her lucky kids, but to all their friends who were always loved and welcomed with open arms. She coached soccer, was PTA president, Camp Fire group leader, room mother, dance chaperone, and so much more. She took it all on with joy and capability.

Susie never met a stranger. She was the life of the party and could talk with anyone for hours. She hosted cocktail parties, dinners, and holidays for large groups of family and friends with ease. She was an accomplished cook, always trying something new. She was an avid tennis and bridge player, and a skier with perfect form.

After both daughters left for college, she started work in the Shoreline School District where her kids went to school. She spent many years capably handling budgets and administration for the district’s vocational programs while making treasured friends.

Susan built and maintained relationships throughout her life. Her Blanchet friendships stayed strong through annual Lake Chelan family trips with up to 100 people, casino outings and holiday parties. Lifelong friendships blossomed from early parenting years in a cul-de-sac full of fabulous families. Innis Arden brought friends together through tennis and swim team. Susie and John valued their active involvement in the St. Luke’s community immensely. They both have bonds with their large extended families in Seattle, and Sue has always been part of the glue that brought everyone together. They particularly enjoyed family time on Whidbey and San Juan Islands. When her grandchildren came, they became the center of her world.  Her gift was making each of the people in her life feel especially understood and cared for in her presence.

Susan is preceded in death by parents Robert & Bette (Miles) Murray; brother & sister-in-law Robert & Madelyn Murray; father and mother-in-law Aloysius & Gilberte (Malo) Bergmann; sister-in-law Lorraine (Bergmann) McDevitt; and brother-in-law Robert Bergmann.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, John Bergmann; children Corinne Pann, Lynanne Struss (Brad), & Dave Bergmann (Meredith); treasured grandchildren Addison, David & Alexander Pann, Colson, Miles & Lila Struss, and Donovan Bergmann; and brothers Jim Murray (Renee) and Tom Murray.

Funeral services will be held Friday, November 18th at St. Luke Catholic Church in Shoreline, with a Rosary at 10:30am and Funeral Mass at 11:00am, followed by a reception.

Donations in Susan’s honor may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org/).