Susanne Reichley Rohrer, 65, lost her courageous battle with cancer Aug. 5, 2008. She passed away peacefully at her home in Coupeville.

She was born Aug. 8, 1942, at Walter Reed Army Hospital and grew up in Washington, D.C., and Chevy Chase, Md. She graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and attended Mary Washington College. She received a bachelor of science degree in nursing from George Mason University and later earned an MBA from Marymount University.

She worked for many years in the renal dialysis unit at Inova Fairfax Hospital as a nurse and later as unit director. Taking advantage of her many talents as a nurse and an administrator, Sue later joined the Public Health Service as a nurse consultant. At the PHS she worked for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration before becoming a Public Health Advisor for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. She retired after 22 years of service at the rank of captain.

In 2005, Sue and her husband, John, retired to Coupeville on beautiful Whidbey Island. She devoted many hours to the Big Brothers / Big Sisters program of Island County, to Oak Harbor Elementary School, and was a proud member and officer of her PEO chapter. She was involved with many activities at Whidbey Presbyterian Church. During her short retirement she enthusiastically continued to pursue her passion for knitting and quilting. Above all else, she enjoyed being “Nana” and spending as much time as possible with her children and their families.

Sue is survived by her husband of 25 years, John Rohrer, her sons, Charles Briddell of Baltimore, Michael Briddell (Susan) of Oak Harbor, Derek Rohrer (Sinara) of Boca Raton, Fla., Andrew Briddell (Candice) of Ashburn, Va., and Alex Rohrer (Allison) of Lexington, Ky. She also leaves 10 grandchildren, two sisters, a brother and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances and donations may be sent to Whidbey General Hospital Foundation, PO Box 641 Coupeville, WA 98239 or Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of Island County, 913 E Whidbey Ave, Oak Harbor, WA 98277.

The celebration of Sue’s life shall take place at Whidbey Presbyterian Church in Oak Harbor on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 2 p.m.

Burley Funeral Chapel in Oak Harbor has been entrusted with arrangements.