Obituary of Susan Sabean

Susan “Susie” Sabean, 73, of Denville, New Jersey, passed away on April 10, 2020, after complications from the coronavirus. Susie was the beloved wife of Maurice “Moe” Sabean, who passed away in 2014. After their marriage on September 14, 1986, Susie and Moe shared a loving relationship for 28 years, including lots of laughter and good times with many close friends. Being in their company was always a delight.

Susie was a vibrant, compassionate, fun-loving woman whose clever wit always made people laugh. She endeared herself to everyone who interacted with her. To know Susie was to love her. Susie had a special fondness for animals; her fur babies included Babette, Lionel, Winston, Simon, Jake, Ernie, Jackie, Louie, Max, and Groucho. She loved orchids and was quite adept at keeping them alive. Her home on Cedar Lake was an endless source of joy for Susie—glorious sunrises over the water, peaceful moonlight reflected by the lake, spectacular fall colors on the trees, graceful swans gliding by with cygnets in the spring, children skating in the winter, kayakers paddling by in the summer. Susie also loved going to Broadway shows, dining in wonderful restaurants, and traveling to Europe with Moe; her lifelong friend, Suzi Rosner Doucha; and Suzi’s husband, Roger Doucha. 

Susie was born in New York City on February 16, 1947, to Murray Bernard and Florence Schlossberg Bernard. Her older brother, Robert E. “Bobby” Bernard, was also her lifelong friend. Susie often mentioned how kind Bobby was to her, teaching her about the world, taking her with him on adventures, showing her how loving a sibling can be. Her adoration for her brother lasted throughout her life.

Susie graduated from Bayside High School, Queens, in 1963, then studied psychology at Hunter College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968. Her career in educational publishing culminated in her Executive Editor position at  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Susie excelled as an editor, interacting professionally with the scientists who authored the textbooks, working with the editorial and design staffs to structure the format of the program, and completing the process in time for printing. She accomplished all these tasks with a positive attitude and her ever-present sense of humor, making her well-respected by her coworkers.

Susie is survived by brother, Bobby; sister-in-law, Pricilla Sabean; nephew, Bryan Sabean (Edna); niece, Gael Hawthorne (Alan Fetzer); grandniece, grandnephew, great-grandniece, great-grandnephew; cousin Judy Toonkel; first husband/friend, Jean Michelle Zalcensztajn; lifelong friend Suzi Doucha, her son David Doucha, his wife Audrey Berk; neighbors/friends Steve and Margot Sample; close friend Carol Marie Kiernan; devoted friend, Margie O’Hern; and a million others.

Due to the current health crisis, Susie’s memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. Donations in Susie’s name may be made to St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center, 575 Woodland Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940. (www.sthuberts.org)