Suzanne Hensgen (born Suzanne Rae Schufletowski), 45, died in the hospital on Feb. 14, 2011, surrounded by family and friends. She is survived by her husband Jeff and his two children Wren and Hope; her parents Sharon and Dr. Frank Schufletowski and her sister Lorelei Schufletowski, all of Oak Harbor; and her brother Drew Schufletowski and his wife Agnes Gryczmanska, of Quito, Ecuador.
Born in Pullman, Wash., Suzanne also lived in Idaho, Kansas, Wisconsin, and Texas while growing up. She earned a B.A. degree from the University of Texas and a master’s degree from St. Mary’s University, both in San Antonio. In 1995 she moved with her first husband, Glenn Fenske, to Portland, Ore., and felt at home for the first time. Suzanne devoted her career to promoting and assessing learning for children in grades K-12. In Portland she worked at Interwest Applied Research, Northwest Evaluation Association, and, most recently, in the research office of Portland Public Schools. While between positions she volunteered full-time with the American Cancer Society.
Suzanne was a 15-year survivor of breast cancer, including eight years living with advanced metastatic cancer. A member of the Pink Phoenix Dragon Boat team and a founding member and participant in local cancer support groups, this Wonder Woman — a favorite Halloween costume and alter ego — enjoyed an extensive network of friends and was deeply loved.
But Suzanne refused to be defined by cancer and filled her days creating charcoal portraits, raising cats from a local shelter, and dominating the Portland fashion scene with outrageous amounts of color. She and Jeff recently traveled to California, Alaska, New York, Hawaii, and Ecuador, but ran out of days before they could see the Galapagos Islands or return to Europe.
The net amount of fabulousness in the world decreased measurably when Suzanne died, and her quick wit and clear-eyed perspective enriched us all. Her example of thriving despite the odds continues to reverberate. Join us for a celebration of Suzanne’s life at the Lucky Lab pub in Multnomah Village on Sunday, March 6, starting at 3 p.m. Please consider a donation to Sisters of the Road in Portland, or to the American Cancer Society, in lieu of flowers.
