In Memory
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Susan K (Goffeney) Badger
April 20, 1943 ~ September 29, 2021 (age 78)
Susan (Goffeney) Badger of South Bend, Indiana, born April 20, 1943, passed away peacefully on September 29, 2021.
Susan is survived by her husband, Joseph Badger; daughters, Wendy (DeWayne) Badger Peters of North Liberty, and Amy (Scott) White of South Bend; grandchildren, Audrey, Christopher, and Joseph Mahank and Justice and Lleyton White; brother, Fred Goffeney; and her “Fakey Son” Sean (Hiroko) Harrison. She is predeceased by her sister, Dorothy Patricia Reidenbach; and her parents, Jemima and John Goffeney
Susan went by many names including Sue, Susie, Mom, Namaw, Grandma by the Tracks, and Aunt Sue. She had a lifelong love of books which she passed on to her kids and grandkids. She was also never without multiple pets. She especially loved dogs and was a great trainer.
Joe vividly remembers meeting her on his second day of work at Mishawaka Rubber in 1962. He was immediately attracted to her vibrant personality and sense of humor. He even went as far as trading his mail route so that he could deliver to her department. They were married for 56.75 years.
Being the first in her family to attend college, Sue went to IUSB. Having started later than most, she was already mom to a 4th and a 6th grader. She graduated in 1983; being sure to finish before her eldest graduated from high school. She then worked for South Bend Medical Foundation, followed by National Standard. She finished her career at Amcast Elkhart Products where she developed great relationships with coworkers. She especially enjoyed Friday lunches at the Bristol Café.
Recently we asked her if she could go anywhere and do anything, what would it be. Her response was a little surprising, but we should’ve known! She wanted to go back to the waterparks at Wisconsin Dells. “And this time I’m going to keep my eyes open!”
Full of wit and sass, never once complaining, though she was often in great pain, she was a true steel magnolia. Spending her nights reading books and doing puzzles, she was the person you could call at all hours of the night. Though the conversations were usually brief, ending with “I don’t know anything else,” they were always the most treasured. Full of laughs and “don’t put Nonno on the phone I don’t have a few hours to spare”, those phone calls were a favorite time for her grandkids.
When her granddaughters were growing up they’d spend time snuggled up on the couch with her watching movies; The Sound of Music being a favorite. It is Grandma by the Tracks who gets credit for Audrey’s short phase when she insisted she be called Gretel.
Sue was patient with her grandkids, laughing at their antics rather than getting angry. When Justice put all of Namaw’s decorative rocks in her footie pajamas, so proud and excited to show Sean, Namaw laughed so hard. She loved to retell the story.
Grandma thought Lleyton should eat more, but regardless of what was offered, he, like she, always preferred to just eat the cookies.
Chris and Joe have fond memories of Grandma stopping on her way home from work to share a meal. Before it could begin though, she had to chase her “stinkweeds” around the room. Once caught, she’d sniff their necks and say, “Nope! Flowers!”
Amy believes her honesty comes from her mom. She once got a new haircut and asked her mom if she liked it. “No, but I love you” was the answer. People often say to Amy, “But tell us how you REALLY feel.” Like mother like daughter.
Besides wit and sass, she was full of wisdom. Wendy remembers a time when she was crying in her Mom’s lap lamenting, “Why me?” Never one to sugar coat, the response Mom gave was, “Why NOT you?” Perhaps this moment is why Wendy is also not known to sugar coat.
Other gems included, “Choose your battles” and, paraphrased, “Happiness is a personal responsibility.” Perhaps the most important to remember as you finish reading this, “Life is now! If you are waiting for it to be perfect, you are missing it.”
She loved us all fiercely and we loved her. She will be greatly missed.
Per Susan’s wishes, there will be no services.
Memorial donations can be made to Pet Refuge, 4626 Burnett Drive, South Bend, IN 46614 or online at www.petrefuge.com.
To leave an online condolence or to share a memory, please visit www.hahnfuneralhomes.com.
10/10/2021 djb
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