I couldn't have asked for a better tour of Alaska or better company than to be with my wonderful sister and two amazing aunts and roadtrip an impressive 5,000 miles in the course of 2 weeks.

love and miss you suzy : )

-Your Nephew- 

Happy Birthday Sue,

When we woke up this morning, we looked outside and saw a snow cake on top of our table, so we decorated it for you...... We love and miss you,

Arllen, Tom and Julito

Miss you lots 

Hey Aunt Sue,

This is my Girl Friend, Dakota, shes a catcher too!

Happy Birthday Aunt Sue!

I realize that this is belated but Sue Ann would have approved because anytime we had an appointment to visit with her something always made us late! I had the privilege of serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Alaska from 2001-2003. For eight months of that time I was blessed to be a part of Sue Ann's life while in Barrow Alaska. Her love and kindness could fill a room. I could not count the times that she would invite us young "always hungry" 19 year old boys into her home to feed and take care of us. I remember spending Thanksgiving and New Years at her home, we watched the Barrow Fireworks from her window, and I was able to meet Mother Hoefler and found out quickly that Sue Ann and her mother were cut from the same East Coast Cloth :) Sue Ann had a major impact on my life, I am a much better person having known her and think about her Christ-like attributes often. I pray that someday I will be able to see her again and hope that I make it to heaven because I am certain that is where she is now.

All my love Sue Ann,

One of your Elder Johnson's :) 

Matt Johnson
matthewdonjohnson@gmail.com 

You know most family and friends look at their past through their memory pictures, and some place past all the bad and hard times, they find the fondest memories of someone who touched their very heart.

I was thinking back on those memories past - the other day and realized there was a whole lot of things … friends and family may never of said,  some of those un-said things may date back over 40 years. 
And the funny thing about all of these overdue words  ...  are owed to just one person.

SIS I hope you are listen-in !!!!   

We never got the chance to thank you for so many things, like the many different visits.  For the extra travel home for instance, and I know you were lyin awake at night & listenin, ... gettin up to care for your sisters, brothers, mother and friends that were in need.   For bringing together those lost friends and family.  Yea, you had the eye of and eagle, the sixth sense of someone beyond our imagination, and yes … let us not forget the roar of a lion … calling a spade, a spade.   But you always had the heart as big as a house.

We thank you for services as short order cook, chef, baker, event planner.  And yes for making meals that brought everyone together as one big family.
For your parties, small gatherings, and welcoming everyone into your heart and home, … most all … this work ya done alone,  all for just  making everyone a part of each other’s  life.

We thank you for services of bodyguard, protecting her friends & family from ill doers, like a lion with her cubs.
 And let’s not forget cupid arrangements, yes !!!  let’s not forget those you brought together to have and to hold. 

And lord knows we thank you, for medical attention, for nursing us through bumps, bruises, splinters, surgery and fevers.
And let’s not forget the medical advice, oh-no … the important stuff likes, uh “you don’t stop scratching that, it ain’t never gunna get better.”  And “take that medicine as I tell you – there’s never ever a reason to be in pain.” Ya gotta love those drugs”,  “come-on snap out of it.”
And of course the thank you for Veterinarian advice for our sick animals, or the long talks of pain over puppy love.

Oh Yea !! let us not forget to thank you -- for hundred’s of moments that are silent & still, portraits & candid shots.  Yes memories you captured, stopping time with a single click -- painted sunrises & sunsets, ocean blues to mountain highs, wolves, mountain lions & wild steeds (yee-Ha!), of family & friends, and everything else in between.  Moments in time that we look back on and never forget -- those moments speaking volumes.

We thank you for lending the hand of life - for the new life you brought and introduced into this world.  And for those conforted and cared for in the living world.  And yes the souls you assisted to a new world.

We  thank you for entertainment that kept the house laughing with your keen sense of humor,  for the wonderful, Mother Days, Thanksgiving, Christmas and 4th of July and even birthdays and making each celebration a dream come true especially back in the day on your limited budget.

We thank you for Construction work, for making toy soldiers, building Confidence, hopes and dreams, an’ … somehow making everything come true.  And thank you for cementin together the imports ties of family, the foundation that made everyone stick together no matter what.

We thank you for the carryin charges … for carryin us on your books for necessities of life, getting the things we needed/wanted but would not buy ourselves.  Or the times when we needed a place to stay … you opened your heart and home … we came and we stayed.

This is just a few of the things for which our THANK YOU's are long overdue …. The person we owe em to … managed by simply doing without … or what’s in it for me.  We know you understand that may be we could not say anything in memory of you until now, But, you ... know the nicest thing about all of it is that … I know … that Sue would mark the entire thank you bill  “PAID IN FULL” for just six little words … “WE LOVE AND MISS YOU SUE.”

The Hoefler Family thanks Vito Gelose for dedicating his Ride for Roswell to our beloved Sue Ann - we miss her so!

Here is Vito's Story .................

The Ride For Roswell

Ride Day Summary

By Vito Gelose

June 25, 2011

Ride Day started early, arriving at the hospital at 5:00 in the morning. It was a damp and chilly morning which included a rain shower. At 6:00 AM the rain stopped and the 200 rider Peloton lined up in front of the Roswell Park hospital tower for the start. As we waited Mitch Flynn, the founder of the Ride For Roswell, instructed us to look up at the hospital tower and wave to the on-looking patients. Mitch went on to say, “This is one of the reasons why we ride”.

Our 12-mile journey to the University of Buffalo Amherst Campus took the Peloton through some of the most beautiful areas of the city. As our procession pulled into the campus, we werebeing cheered-on by hundreds of bikers who were in line waiting for the start of their ride.

My next journey was the 44 mile eastbound ride to Akron and return to UB. As we rode out of the campus my pace was between 20 to 24 MPH. This pace is very fast and was short lived. As the south crosswind picked up, my speeddiminished. This is when I knew it was going to be tough pedaling on both east and west legs of my trip.

Riding almost to the end of the eastbound leg, I was looking forward to the short northbound leg. A nice tailwind would provide me a well-deserved break. Well, that would not be the case. As my left turn was made, the wind was directly out of the north! I just kept going and told myself that wind is better than rain. With 20 more miles to go, I made another left turn and started the eastbound return leg. After riding a short distance, the nagging south crosswind made itspresence known and remained until the finish at the UB Campus.

This year’s Ride For Roswell had over 7,100 participating riders and the support of hundreds ofvolunteers. This event attracts all kinds of people, including patients, who want to contribute to the cause of fighting cancer. Some of these people can easily ride great distances, others not very far. I feel blessed that I am healthy enough and able to successfully complete my journey.

My goal was to complete the course no matter how hard the wind blew or how heavy it rained. This challenge is nothing compared to the hardships that cancer patients and their families endure every day.

I am grateful for the generosity of all who contributed, and to the Hoefler family who allowedme to ride in the memory of their sister Sue Ann.

Thank you very much.

Vito

Click below to visit my ride page:

http://giving.roswellpark.org/page.aspx?pid=1090&tab=0&frsid=25370

44 Mile Course Ride Statistics:

Ride Time 2 hour, 50 minutes

Total Distance 45.7 miles (73.5 km)

Average Speed 16.1 miles per hour (25.9 km/hr)

Maximum Speed 38.2 miles per hour (61.5 km/hr)

The metric conversion is provided for my Canadian supporters.

Thank You to All Who Supported My 2011 Ride.

The Hoefler Family – Peg, JoAnne, Joseph, & Dan

Willard Saperston - Saperston Asset Management, Inc.

Tracy's Wine Jellies – Tracy Hanson-Gelose!

Brett Sager

David & Cindy Carlino

Donna & Bill Tedesco

AXA Foundation's Matching Gifts Program

J. Daniel Corcoran

Thomas Lippard

Kris Bartosiak

The Susan LaBarbera Family

Nancy Engel

Paul, Carolyn & Allegra - Ricky's Lucky Nuts

Squire's Tap Room

Rick & Donna Kadish

Diane & Anthony Gelose

Frank & Joyce Minosh

Anne Stagnitti

Tom Anderson

John Choczynski

Armand & Mimi Cacciatore

Christine Carlin

Rock Cerretto

Janice Zink

Jennifer Kelschenbach

Steven Grochowski

Jim Stagnitti

Mark Miller – MaeTec Power, Inc.

Lauren & Bob Lalley

Sam & Donna Gelose

Anthony Gelose, Sr.

Mark Deyle

Nikola Buchanan

Michele & David Caban

John & Elaine Gondek

Sandra Schnell

Christine Craig

Roey Tacca

Scott Yanity

Shelley Badrow Hanny

Joseph Repicky

Cinzia Chadderdon

Penny Turnbull

Sam & Tricia Giambattista

Amy Woodruff

Joseph Labate

Jamie Johnson

Traci Stadler

Mary Bergman

Donna Torrisi

Debra Jaeger

Karen DiFelice

Jodee & Larry Fiorella

Sandi Kusmierski 

We had a beautiful get together in Anchorage for Sueann with the wonderful honor of having her sister Joann and her brother Joe there with us. It was great to share all our stories and love about such an loving kind wonderful human being. We laughed a lot we cried but we all left feeling more lighthearted just as Sueann would have wanted us to.

The story I shared with her family was to show how big Sueann's heart was and how kind and caring she really was. Sueann called me every month on the 14th for a year when my husband died on July 14th 2006. She would check on me and see how I was doing she always had encouraging words and she at some point in the conversation she would always make me laugh. We are all blessed having her come into our lives. I know that she is at peace  Ann Glasheen and family Bethel Ak

See the sweet note Julito Fazzini ( 9 yrs) sent Sue Ann

SueAnn was my mother's personal nurse when she had both my brother and I. We have home videos of Susie, when they first brought me home from the hospital, dressing me, changing my diaper, and of course giving me my very first bath in the sink. Every time I received good grades, did well in sports, got a good part in drama club, or even when I got prom queen, Aunt Susie would always remind me it was all because of that first bath she gave me. She would never let me forget it! I know that I owe an awful lot to that legendary bath <3.

A letter from Nancy Blake to the Hoefler Family, December 19, 2010.

Dear Hoefler Family;

Please accept my most sincere condolences on the recent passing of Sue Ann.

I wanted to write this to let you know how very much Sue Ann meant to me. I have so many great memories of moments with Sue Ann, and I wanted to share some of them with you.

I first met Sue Ann about 3 days after arriving in Bethel. The hospital was having a welcoming picnic for all the new staff that had recently arrived. A group of us were sitting at picnic tables at the playground next to the hospital. Sue Ann pulled up in her little red car, backed on to the field, jumped out, and opened the hatchback. She kind of looked around at everybody, threw her hands up in the air, and said "Well, what are you all waiting for? Help me get this sh*$ out of the car!" She had brought food, and lots of it!

The next time we met was several days later, when my friend Lisa Creech and I were out walking along the bluff of the river. We happened upon Sue Ann sitting in her car at the river's edge. We walked up and said hello, and chatted for several minutes. She asked us if we were enjoying Bethel, and if we thought we had what it took to stay. She gave us some advice about surviving in Bush Alaska and the politics ofthe hospital ("Listen to me, trust no one !I"). We thought "hello... paranoid!!" She also predicted that Lisa would be the ER manager within a year, and I would be married within the same amount of time. Little did we know at the time, but she was right!

Once I started working my regular schedule (nights!) in the hospital ER, Sue Ann and I would see each other off and on at work. She would pop down to say hello, or I would wander up her way if we weren't too busy. She would always introduce me to her patients, and comment on how beautiful their new babies were. She was always trying to convince me that OB was where I really wanted to be!! One night in particular, she called me to tell me she had a patient that would be delivering shortly, and asked me if I wanted to come and help her. It was quiet in the ER, and so I agreed to go help. When I arrived, the patient was already in the delivery room, and Sue Ann was going about the business of preparing the room. She took a moment to introduce me to the patient as "Nancy, she's an ER nurse who has never worked OB, but is thinking about transferring here." I was talking to the patient, who was remarkably calm. Suddenly, the other nurse (I believe it was Pinky) called for Sue Ann to come and help her, and Sue Ann said she would be right back. She left me in the room with this woman who was ready to deliver at any moment!! Outwardly, I remained calm, but inside 1was thinking...oh no she didn't!!!! I couldn't believe she left me!! I could see the patient weighing her options with this nurse "who had never worked OB" Of course, no sooner had she left the room, when the patient said she felt like she had to push, with this look of panic in her eyes! I kept thinking, oh my God, Sue Ann, pleeeease come back NOW!!! A few minutes later (seemed like an eternity to me!), Sue Ann walked calmly into the
room, and helped deliver a beautiful baby girl. She handed her to me, all perfectly wrapped, and asked me to hold her for a minute. I was so mesmerized with this new little bundle, that a few minutes later, the baby's Mom said, "Um, Nancy ...can I hold my baby now?". We all had a good laugh.

On one of those nights at work, we were chatting, and I just happened to mention that my belongings from home had not yet arrived, and so I was using hospital issue sheets, blankets and pillows. The next day, Sue Ann brought me the coziest blanket for my bed! A small gesture that made such a huge difference.

My first trip up the Kuskokwim River by boat was with Sue Ann and her friend. She called me and said they were taking the trip to have lunch, and maybe pick some blueberries. It sounded like fun, so off we went. Sue Ann had packed the biggest, most delicious lunch for us. We sat on the tundra and talked and laughed. It was a beautiful, big sky kind of day. On the way back, we saw a fish camp up on a bluff. The salmon were out drying on racks. The bluff looked like it had a bunch of holes in the sand. Me, being the newbie, asked what was drying on the racks, and what all the holes were. Sue Ann convinced me they were red fox holes, and it was the foxes drying on the racks. I totally believed her. Not only did I believe her, but I called home to my parents to tell them about my adventures on the river, and told them all about the fox holes and drying pelts. I also told everyone I worked with in the ER as well! She never let me forget the fox story!!

We occasionally got together to have a nice cold tall Foster's and a good chat. She cooked amazing meals. She would tell me how she loved to drive her car out to the BLM land and just sit and watch the tundra. We had some really great conversations and lots of belly laughs!

My husband, Rick, and I moved to Barrow in May of '98. Sue Ann thought it was a great idea, and came to visit us there that summer. She loved it! I like to think that we planted the seed for her to move there. Not only did she move, but so did our friend Pinky! Unfortunately, we had to move back to Bethel for my husband to go to school, so we never did live there at the same time. We did go back and visit, however, and she was living in our same apartment in hospital housing!

When I became pregnant in early '99, Sue Ann was so excited! She promised she would be there for me when I delivered in Anchorage. But, babies have their own agenda. When I called her from the hospital to tell her they were admitting me for induction, she jumped on the first plane she could, and called from Fairbanks to see how I was doing. She talked to my Mom on the phone, and said she could tell by the way my Mom sounded that she thought she would never get there in time. She was right. My husband didn't make it in time from North Dakota, either! When she arrived at the hospital, she of course wanted to take pictures of my new gorgeous baby girl. I wanted to wait to completely unwrap her once my husband got there, but she insisted. "Just look the other way, and I'll wrap her right back up once I'm done!" She took some beautiful photos that I absolutely treasure.

Once she decided that she wanted to buy a house back in "civilization" we embarked on an epic search for the perfect house. I'll bet we covered every square kilometer of the Mat-Su Valley! We would put Maeve in her car seat, get some snacks and be gone for the day! And then she bought a house in Anchorage!

On one of those visits to town to look at houses, Sue Ann was staying in some cabins up the road from us. They were really cute and homey, and she really liked the people that owned them. She called us one night at almost midnight-we weren't sure if she was laughing or crying-we could hardly understand what she was saying at first! She was trying to tell us that she had seen a mouse in the cabin, and couldn't leave or get off the couch "because it is staring at me with it's @$#%II& beady eyes, and it might jump on me!" At first we thought she was kidding. We were kind of laughing and saying stuff like uOh no, Sue Ann-watch out-it might attack you!!" Then we realized-she was completely hysterical. She
really couldn't move-she was petrified!! We told her to leave and come to our house-she said she couldn't move, because every time she moved, it moved. We told her that Rick would come and get her and help her out of the cabin-she didn't want him to because she was in her nighty! We told her to call the cabin people-didn't want to do that either! Finally, we got her calmed down-she thought it ran out and said she could finally get to bed. In the morning, she called really early and said she had fled the cabin in the middle of the night when she heard the mouse scurrying across the floor, and had driven around all night in her nighty and all her stuff just flung into the back of the car. She said she had gotten stopped by the police (I can't remember why) and she said he just had a look of pity on his face...she looked like she was living in her car and had mascara streaming down her face from crying about the mouse!!! Oh my gosh, I laughed so hard! We still talk about that night!

Once she settled into her new house in Anchorage, Maeve and I went to spend a "girls' night" there. Sue Ann spent 20 minutes showing me all her new bed linens from QVC. She had the best, most comfy cozy beds!! We got Maeve into bed, and stayed up talking. We could talk for hours. Anyway, in the morning, I told her she sold me on the QVC linen. I had never bought anything from QVC, but decided I would buy some sheets and a duvet cover and try them out. I was so excited when I got them; I called her and told her I was putting them on the bed that night! Well, that night my daughter had a tummy ache, and promptly vomited all over the brand new sheets!! When I took her to the doctor, she told her "I barfed all over my Mommy's brand new QVC sheets". Sue Ann thought that was hilarious since it sounded like I bought so much at QVC, when actually that was (and still is!) the only thing I have ever bought from there!

So many wonderful memories that I will keep with me forever. Sue Ann was like a big sister to me. I knew that I could call her any time-day or night-and she would be there. Rick and Maeve adored her. When she called me to tell me she had cancer, it was such a huge, massive shock. I knew from the beginning that she would fight the fight her way. And she did. The last time I saw her, we had lunch at Moose's Tooth (you know how she loved that place!). She looked fabulous. She had such an outrageous sense of humour and a contagious laugh-I loved that about her. I so respected her as a nurse-she was old school like me.

I know that you will receive many, many similar stories of remembrance, and I guess that is a testament to what will be her enduring spirit. I will never forget her. I am sending you each a big bear hug like the ones Sue Ann gave me every time I saw her.

Love to you all,
Nancy Blake
Wasilla, Alaska

Dear Hoefler Family,
We are thinking of you all.  Our Family has a Charity fund and when we go to the Philippines for Christmas we use the funds to purchase and distribute food bags filled with items for Christmas and New Years Dinner.  Our Charity also offers micro loans, and provides supplies to an elementary school.  For Christmas 2011, we will dedicate our contributions towards a new core project,  "Aunt Sue Ann".  In honor of Sue Ann, we will provide needed supplies to a hospital's OB department or a clinic's pediatric care unit.  Inside the Christmas food bags we will add a card in Sue Ann's honor asking those receiving the bags, to pause, smile, and make a special effort to be kind to a stranger. We want your family to know the impact your Daughter, Sister and Aunt, has had on my life can never be measured;  the influence she has had on Arllen, precious, the love,acceptance and time she spent with Julito; everlasting. 
We are honored. 

Love, The Tommy Fazzini Family.
We will be posting something here very soon.
www.mysaintanthony.com  

A poem written by Joan Koval:

Sue Ann you were soooo funny, one of the greatest nurse's I ever met.
Our OB Bethel family, the best kept secret, you can bet.

Every one thought I was the midwife, but little did they know,
there was a powerhouse on the late shift. She was really running the show.

Sue Ann could deliver any woman, turn her body from left to right,
"Come on rotate that baby I don't have all night"

I know you can hear her say that, with her honest, humorous tone
She was loved by the Native women, never leaving anyone alone.

Her colleagues and peers adored her, knowing she had a strong back bone.
If you ever needed someone to talk to you could call her on the phone.

Sue Ann was so considerate, so generous and kind,
Her inspiration to me is to live fully and absolutely keep humor in mind!

Blessings to her family and friends. I feel your peace.
Love, Joan Koval

Sue Ann took several of us newcomers to Bethel under her wing.  She became a great friend to many who arrived in Bethel in the early 90's.  Many good times were spent together in Bethel during the long, cold, dark winters. Sue Ann and Tom were always having dinners and get togethers.  We all became very close, stayed in touch, and visited after Bethel. Sue Ann was the glue to these lasting friendships.

You will be greatly missed!

Haymans

I knew SueAnn for long long time. And I remember she had a great big very friendly personality and was very good to my kids back then…every time she’s behind my back..she’d punch me  on my shoulder.   Thanks for letting us know, we will truly miss her and I know she’s in a better place. I have a pic of her with faith when faith was born…We’ll remember her and her family in  prayer during our services this week

submitted by Tom Fazzini for Paul

We used to live in Sitka ,  a rain forest part of Alaska, and yes, it rains a lot in Sitka! Sue Ann worked at the hospital as a traveling nurse.  Whenever we had sunshine or nice warm weather, our son Julito always asked “Is Aunt Sue Ann in town?”    Or “Is she coming to Sitka?”  "Coz Aunt Sue Ann always brings this nice weather and sunshine!” It was true , She always brought the sunshine.   

We miss you our Ms. Sunshine!

Fazzinis

Sue Ann & JoAnne ….Sisters Adventure

It was April fools day and  I decided to have some fun. Sue Ann would cut my hair every now and then, but she HATED if others found out. Especially if I said something like, “Oh, Sue Ann, knows how to cut hair; she might give you a hair cut”, She would get so pissed at me, she would say something like, “Tommy, I’m telling you, knock that shit off”, I never listened.

So, one sunny April Fools day, I decided to make flyers for “NEW HAIRDRESSER IN TOWN” Featuring, "Sue Ann".  I made a few, no, I made a bunch of copies and plastered them all around town, I even handed them out to taxi drivers, AND I used her home phone number too. Sure enough, the calls came in, it didn’t take long for Susie to put 2 and 2 together, and man-o-man was she pissed. That was a good one! I never got another haircut either.