Susanne Fries (nee Depner)

It is with great sadness, the family of Susie Fries announces her passing on February 8, 2025 at the age of 85. 

Susie was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Rudy, who passed away in 2022. She will be forever remembered by daughter Lillian and son in law David, grandchildren Daniel and Ethan, Willi (brother) and Uschi Depner (sister-in-law), Marion Marinov (niece), nephews Bob Waas , John Waas and Mark Waas, along with many others.

She was born in Siebenburgen, a small town in Romania where her family owned a farm and vineyard. The family was displaced during WWII, her father being sent away to serve in the war and her mother in a Russian work camp. Miraculously, both of them survived and at age 12, Susie and her brother Willi, were re-united with their parents in Regensburg, Germany through efforts of the Red Cross. In her early twenties, she met her husband, Rudy, through mutual friends. Rudy was from a town close by called Walderbach, but had since immigrated to Canada and was serving in the Canadian Armed Forces. So at the age of 23 and newly married, Susie moved to New Brunswick, Canada with Rudy. New Brunswick in the 1960’s was very different and more rural than Regensburg but she persevered, learning English and getting a job at a library in town. This was where she also became a mother, as her daughter, Lillian, was born. In 1969, the family moved back to Germany to CFB Baden Baden in the Black Forest region. She enjoyed being back in Germany, close to her family and back to her roots. Then five years later, back to London, Ontario, where Susie settled for 45 yrs, apart from moving to Ottawa for 3 yrs. In London, the family moved to the neighbourhood of Byron where her and Rudy built their dream home. She worked at the University of Western Ontario until she retired. She enjoyed her time in London very much, spending the summers going to the beaches at Pinery and Port Stanely, going for drives in the countryside and working in her garden. After retirement, she joined an adult beginner band called New Horizons and learned to play the flute. She enjoyed having her grandsons visit.

Susie lived a full life, rose to meet challenges, loved adventure and exploring new places and embraced lifelong learning. She was a dedicated mother and wife.

Donations in memory may be made to the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, which provided my mother excellent care and comfort in the last years of her life at her assisted living facility or a charity of your choice.

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