Oct 29, 1950 - Aug 17, 2016

Susan Lee Balderama (nee McKissen) died in her sleep at home in Novato on August 17, 2016. She was 65. 

Susan was born Oct. 29, 1950, in Vernal, Utah, to Marion Lee (Preas) and Paul McKissen, and raised by her mother in Utah and Claremont, CA. Susan attended UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara and UCSF, and became a registered nurse in 1973. 

In 1971 she met Paquito (Pat) Balderama at a ballroom-dancing class in San Francisco; they married in 1975 and lived in San Francisco and Daly City before settling with their two children in Novato, in 1978. Susan worked several jobs as a nurse at Mills Memorial Hospital in San Mateo and at Novato Community Hospital; as a wardrobe mistress at Marin Ballet, when her daughter was a student there; and as a travel agent at Ambassador Tours in San Francisco and AAA in San Rafael before retiring to help care for her beloved, ailing mother. 

Susan was an avid genealogist and delighted in recounting stories about her childhood and her family's roots in pioneer-era Utah. As a younger woman she loved the ocean. She took a month-long bicycle trip all over Hawaii when she was still in high school. With her family, she made summer pilgrimages to Lake Tahoe and Hawaii, where she enjoyed hiking and could float for hours on an air mattress, riding the waves. She excelled at baking (her zucchini-bread recipe was included in a cookbook, So You Made That Dessert?), had a soft spot for British miniseries, and played cards and board games with enthusiasm. But above all she was utterly devoted to caring for those she loved, and took enormous pride in her family's achievements, made possible by her hard work and sacrifice.

In recent years, Susan relished spending time with her grandsons: David, 9, of San Rafael, who was quick to challenge her to a game of Monopoly; and Quentin, 2, of Chicago, who kept her laughing during frequent video-chat dinner dates, and who called her "Mia." Susan was preceded in death by her mother. In addition to her grandchildren, she is survived by Paquito, her husband of 41 years; and her children, Jennifer Balderama McDonald of Chicago and Jason Balderama of San Rafael. The family held a private memorial. In lieu of flowers, they request that donations be made to Susan's grandsons' education funds. Details: Monte’s Chapel of the Hills, San Anselmo, 415-453-8440.
 

~ Published in Marin Independent Journal on Aug. 28, 2016