June 11, 1940 – July 17, 2025
Susan Marie Adams was born in Portland Oregon on June 11, 1940. She was the third child of Marie and Leonard Adams of Beaverton, Oregon. Her sister Margaret Louise was three years older and her brother James Edward, was one year older. She maintained her place as the baby in the family until her sister Nancy Patricia was born seven years later. She loved horses and often rode with a family friend who lived nearby. Growing up she attended Merle Davies Grade School and then St. Thomas More Grade School which was built by her Uncle Monsignor Francis Schaefers. Susan went to St. Mary’s Academy High School, and spent four years in Denver at Loretta Heights college. She was an avid skier during these college years. After graduation she returned to Portland and worked as a teacher for two years. She then moved to Palo Alto and got a Masters degree in Counseling at Stanford University.
She worked in the Milpitas School District as a middle school counselor for many years until her retirement.
Susan was a devoted Catholic who joined a Franciscan order of lay women. She was very active in her local church as well as being active in many leadership positions in the Franciscan group. She loved her dogs who gave her much love and comfort. She was often the life of the party at gatherings with her friends. One of her friends in the Franciscan group, Rosemary Finnerty, became a housemate of Susan and they often entertained friends after Saturday evening Mass. She added a lot of laughter and good cheer to these gatherings. Susan was a very kind person who put a lot of effort into helping people who needed her. She was also very close to her parents and siblings and travelled to Oregon for many visits. She died after a brief illness a month after celebrating her 85th birthday She is survived by her sisters Margaret and Nancy and their husbands, her sister-in- law Sheila Adams and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews and many friends. Her funeral Mass will be at St. Albert the Great in Palo Alto at 11:00am preceded by The Rosary at 10:00am and followed by lunch at the multipurpose room at the church. All friends and family are welcome to attend.