Susan J. Stanis
July 18, 1942 – July 9, 2024
Susan J. Stanis, 81, peacefully died on July 9, 2024, as she wanted, at home. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 18, 1942. The family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where she graduated from Thomas Carr Howe High School. She went to Indiana University, where she met and married Joseph Smith. After a short stay in Van Nuys, California, they lived in Gary, Indiana. Susan graduated from Indiana University with a B.A. in psychology. She accomplished this, on the Deans List, while being a social worker and raising two sons and two stepsons. They relocated to Traverse City and Port Huron, Michigan.
Susan and her sons moved back to Indianapolis where she worked for Pyromet Silver Refinery. There she met her love, Robert Stanis, and they married in 1975. She then worked for the State of Indiana as director of Child Welfare/Social Services and social policy adviser to the mayor of Indianapolis. She had a strong commitment to child welfare. When she was in Gary, she helped initiate the One Church One Child program for adoption sponsorship.
In Indianapolis, Susan retired and enjoyed gardening, needlework and bread making – to the delight of her friends. Over her lifetime she hosted many feasts. They moved to El Cajon, California, – just East of San Diego. Susan then found a new passion, stained glass. In 2002 she became a sunbird migrating between Sun City Center and El Cajon. When Rob retired, they moved permanently to Sun City Center where she was active in the Sun City Center Stained Glass Club. Her homes and those of her relatives are adorned with her beautiful creations. Susan and Rob liked vacationing in Curacao and taking holiday weekend treks to Las Vegas. Sadly, Rob died shortly after retiring. Susan travelled to Portugal and Spain and Russia and Lithuania with her sister, mom and step-dad.
Susan was a dynamic woman. Health issues shrank her capabilities, and she was ready to leave this life. She was preceded in death by her father, Earl Hannemann; step-father, Lennart Sholund; mother, Elsie Sholund; brothers, Steven and Robert Hannemann; husband, Robert Stanis; and beloved pet dogs. She is survived by sons, David Smith, Ithaca, New York, and George Smith (Pam), Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; grandson, Steven Smith (Liz), Indianapolis, Indiana; sister, Kathy Bizzano, Sun City Center; and nephew, Jeremy Bizzano, Sun City Center.
The family wishes to thank the staffs of Brandon Regional Hospital, Southshore Hospital, Wellmed, Origin, Plaza West, Palm Garden, Visiting Angels and Lifepath Hospice. If you wish to make a donation in her memory in lieu of flowers, please donate to Feeding Tampa Bay, 4702 Transport Drive, Bldg. #6, Tampa, FL 33605-5940, or the Sun City Center Emergency Squad (who helped her many times), 720 Ray Watson Drive, Sun City Center, FL. The family will have a small, private ceremony.
Arrangements by Zipperer’s Funeral Home
Susan and her sons moved back to Indianapolis where she worked for Pyromet Silver Refinery. There she met her love, Robert Stanis, and they married in 1975. She then worked for the State of Indiana as director of Child Welfare/Social Services and social policy adviser to the mayor of Indianapolis. She had a strong commitment to child welfare. When she was in Gary, she helped initiate the One Church One Child program for adoption sponsorship.
In Indianapolis, Susan retired and enjoyed gardening, needlework and bread making – to the delight of her friends. Over her lifetime she hosted many feasts. They moved to El Cajon, California, – just East of San Diego. Susan then found a new passion, stained glass. In 2002 she became a sunbird migrating between Sun City Center and El Cajon. When Rob retired, they moved permanently to Sun City Center where she was active in the Sun City Center Stained Glass Club. Her homes and those of her relatives are adorned with her beautiful creations. Susan and Rob liked vacationing in Curacao and taking holiday weekend treks to Las Vegas. Sadly, Rob died shortly after retiring. Susan travelled to Portugal and Spain and Russia and Lithuania with her sister, mom and step-dad.
Susan was a dynamic woman. Health issues shrank her capabilities, and she was ready to leave this life. She was preceded in death by her father, Earl Hannemann; step-father, Lennart Sholund; mother, Elsie Sholund; brothers, Steven and Robert Hannemann; husband, Robert Stanis; and beloved pet dogs. She is survived by sons, David Smith, Ithaca, New York, and George Smith (Pam), Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; grandson, Steven Smith (Liz), Indianapolis, Indiana; sister, Kathy Bizzano, Sun City Center; and nephew, Jeremy Bizzano, Sun City Center.
The family wishes to thank the staffs of Brandon Regional Hospital, Southshore Hospital, Wellmed, Origin, Plaza West, Palm Garden, Visiting Angels and Lifepath Hospice. If you wish to make a donation in her memory in lieu of flowers, please donate to Feeding Tampa Bay, 4702 Transport Drive, Bldg. #6, Tampa, FL 33605-5940, or the Sun City Center Emergency Squad (who helped her many times), 720 Ray Watson Drive, Sun City Center, FL. The family will have a small, private ceremony.
Arrangements by Zipperer’s Funeral Home