Obituary of Susan Elizabeth Hansen

Susan Elizabeth Hansen

1956 ~ 2025

Susan Elizabeth Hansen (née Balcom), beloved wife of Bruce, passed away on May 20th, 2025. She was 68 years old.

Susan was a wife, sister, aunt, mother, grandmother, and friend. Her joyous personality reminded all who knew her to live, laugh, love, and dance.

Susan loved life, her family, her friends, and her community. She was a loyal volunteer for the Wellington Park Community League, the 112^th Scout Group, and her children’s schools and basketball teams. Her kind nature was evident in her professional career, where she worked in early childhood learning and as a medical office administrator.

Susan loved to travel and always knew how to have a good time. Susan and Bruce took many memorable trips together including Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. They enjoyed the sun in Palm Springs, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Bermuda, the Bahamas and Barbados. Many of these trips were with their good friends Sandy and Ron. They took a very special trip to Newfoundland and Ireland shortly following Susan’s retirement in 2017. Family vacations included a road trip to her birthplace of Whitehorse and hiking the Chilkoot trail. Susan treasured extended family gatherings and always made sure they were full of love and laughter. She had a great love for her many nieces, nephews and their children.

Over the past 30 years Susan has made the family cabin a special place. The cabin was a place to spend quality time with family, especially her precious puppies Max and Chewie, explore nature and relax. In recent years Susan made new memories at the cabin, including hosting Shaun and Cheyenne’s 2021 wedding and collecting rocks with her six grandchildren.

Susan will be deeply missed by her husband Bruce; sons Matthew (Kat), Aaron (Olivia), and Shaun (Cheyenne); grandchildren: Mabel, Bruce, Geneva, Ernie, Cormac, and Llewyn; siblings Nora (Allan), John, and Vernon (Michelle); brothers-in-law:  Alan (Erin),  Les (Roberta), Brian (Nancy); sister-in-law Faye; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many dear friends.

She was predeceased by parents Biff and Geneva Balcom; parents-in-law Walter and Mabel Hansen and brother-in-law Rick Adams.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Susan’s caregiver Tigist for her tireless support and devotion to Susan’s quality of life over the last 15 months.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 2:00 PM at the Wellington Community Hall, 13440-132^nd street, Edmonton, Alberta.   

Memorial donations may be made to any Women’s Shelter of your choice.