Susan Lynn Daniels

Susan was born on July 11, 1962 in Portland, Oregon to Anita and Charles Daniels. She was born into a military family that would move eight times during her youth, including Germany and Alaska.

Her first friends were her sisters: Laurie who is one year older and Charlene who joined four years after Susan was born. The three girls grew up with many adventures of an ideal childhood including camping trips, girl scouts, music lessons, and cheering for the American Legion baseball team sponsored by their grandfather’s company. The girls were especially close to their maternal grandmother, who they called “Granny.” Granny lived in Portland not far from one of the girls’ childhood homes. Susan often rode her bike to Granny’s house with a purse full of nickels to use when playing dice or “runs and sets.” Granny kept the girls busy with lots of fun and laughter, as well as teaching them about the traditions of their Danish Lutheran heritage.

After graduating from Portland Lutheran High School in 1980, Susan found a career path at Providence Portland Medical Center. Her natural talents for organizing, writing, planning and communicating took her first to the Child Center and then to Nursing Administration. Among her achievements at PPMC, Susan helped lead the project for Nursing Excellence Magnet Designation, which was awarded in 2005. In 2010 Susan moved her talents to the Design and Construction Property Management division of Providence. During her 29 years with Providence, Susan was awarded Employee of the Month on two occasions and in 2009 was named PPMC Employee of the Year. Providence colleagues describe her as “mission-driven”, “thoughtful and organized”, and “instrumental to our success.”

In 1989, mutual friends introduced Susan to her beloved Bonnie Backberg. They had an instant connection and have been inseparable for 26 years. People often say they had the kind of love of which many only dream. Susan and Bonnie lived a life based on simplicity, kindness, and caring for one another while they also cared generously for family and friends. They combined their love for travel and adventure with their love of being with special people in their lives. Their trips included taking Granny to Reno before her death in 1990, visits with Bonnie’s family in Minnesota, enjoying Bryce Canyon in Utah with their dear friend Paula D’Alfonso, and many other fabulous destinations.

Susan’s creativity and talents are evident in her many scrapbooks that are amazing treasures to behold. She chronicled vacations with photos, souvenirs, and written memories. Travels with Bonnie and her brother, Blaine, and his wife Mia, and other special friends and family are described in loving detail. The joy from those relationships and experiences is revealed on every page. Her scrapbook entitled Strong Women pays homage to her female ancestors with intimate narratives portraying how their everyday lives embodied courage, beauty, faith, and love. Susan’s own amazing strength will be commemorated in this book, as well. Another special book she made in partnership with her parents, chronicles her father’s military career. Susan and mom gathered photos and mementoes and laid out the pages to hold the narrative handwritten by dad. Her sister-in-law, Mia, collaborated on a book detailing a surprise party and trip Susan planned for Bonnie’s 50 ^th birthday. On that trip, Blaine, Mia, Bonnie and Susan saw the Redwoods and beautiful scenes on the Oregon and California coasts.

Susan enjoyed genealogy and loved working with her mother to find the records and stories of elusive ancestors. Susan was a member of the Daughters of American Revolution, Fort Vancouver Chapter. Her particular interests were helping military veterans and promoting education.

In 2013 Susan was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. With Bonnie and family and friends by her side, she persevered through multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation. In the summer of 2014, everyone celebrated what felt like a true victory. Strength largely regained, Susan resumed full time work and enjoyed more travels with Bonnie.  Paula joined them in September 2014 for a memorable trip to beautiful Lake Chelan in Washington. Then, in May 2015, with Bonnie, Blaine, and Mia, Susan visited Virginia to see her Aunt Audrey and Uncle Andy Daniels and other east coast sites.

When cancer aggressively reappeared later in 2015, her time with us was cut all too short. Throughout her life and then entire illness, Susan leaned into her faith in God. She believed she was on a journey with a loving compassionate God holding her every step of the way. This faith gave her a capacity for strength and love that those who knew and loved her, received and treasure as a precious gift.

Susan will forever be remembered as the love of Bonnie’s life, a faithful daughter, wonderful sister, special aunt, beloved sister-in-law, and dear friend. She had a special gift of kindness and generosity and a willingness to see and nurture the best in others. Staff she supervised called her “the best boss ever” for how she worked with them to help them shine. Susan had a quality about her that invited others to feel good about themselves and be successful in whatever endeavors, personal or professional, they might pursue. Her beautiful smile, radiant glow, and sparkling eyes will be greatly missed.

Susan is survived by her life partner Bonnie, parents Charles and Anita Daniels, sister Laurie Cook (Gary), sister Charlene Welch (Ralph), Bonnie’s brothers Brian Backberg (Kathy), Bruce Backberg (Cindy), Blaine Backberg (Mia), nieces Sarah Saxton (Kirby) and Georgia Welch, Erika Nigg (Eric), Katie and Libby Backberg, Michelle Shouse, Maria Wallander (Jon) and nephews David Cook and Ryan Welch, Matthew Backberg, and Ben Backberg (Christa), and great-niece Samantha Cook.

Bonnie and all of Susan’s family wish to thank the staff of Providence Health & Services, in particular the oncology physicians, nurses and nursing assistants of PPMC 7 North, for their compassionate care of Susan.

All are invited to honor Susan’s legacy by donating to research of breast cancer’s reoccurrence in the brain. This is specific research being led by Alison Conlin, MD at Providence Portland Medical Center. Donations in Susan’s memory can be made by check or online.

Make checks payable to and mail to: Providence Portland Medical Foundation

4805 NE Glisan Street, Portland, OR 97213

In the memo line or with a separate note, write “In memory of Susan Daniels/Dr. Alison Conlin Breast Cancer Brain Metastases project.”

If giving online, please go to https://appsor.providence.org/giving/?foundations=7

In the “In memory of section” on the bottom left, enter “Susan Daniels/Dr. Alison Conlin Breast Cancer Brain Metastases project.”

A memorial service celebrating Susan’s life will be held on October 17, 2015 at 1pm at Augustana Lutheran Church, 2710 NE 14 ^th Avenue, Portland, Oregon, 97212.