Susan Christensen

Back in 1915, a 13 year old girl and her family were locked in a barn during the Armenian genocide.  The barn was burned to the ground by her oppressors.  Everybody else perished, but she was able to escape by squeezing through a small opening in the wall.  She endured 2nd and 3rd degree burns on her side, but was able to swim across an adjoining river and meet other evacuating Armenians, who nursed her back to health.  This group was able to eventually get her to safety in the USA.  Several years later, she was married to another Armenian refugee.

They had a daughter on March 17, 1926, and named her Shooshan.  They were very poor and she would have to study in the library every day after school, so she could have light and warmth.  But, she studied hard and became a registered nurse, and made her family very proud.  Eventually, she joined the Nurse Corps in the US Navy and was awarded the rank of Lieutenant.  She served during the Korean War training field medics.  During this time, she met George Christensen, who was one of her pupils.  They began seeing each other socially however, it was against regulations for an enlisted man to date a female officer, and a jealous suitor turned him in.  He was reassigned to North Korea as his punishment, where he was wounded twice by enemy fire while administering first aid to fallen soldiers.  He returned home to recuperate and, subsequently, married Susan.  They settled in Philadelphia where their first child, Chris, was born.  Next, they moved to Norristown where Mark, Karen and Carl were born.

Susan had many accomplishments.  She was the Assistant Director of Nursing and Director of Staff Development at Suburban General Hospital.  She served on the Norristown Area School District board for twenty years.  She was an advocate of education and made sure that all of her children received college degrees, with most of them receiving advanced degrees.

She was one of the founding members of the St. Titus Choir, and was invited to sing with them at a Papal mass at the Vatican in Rome.  

Susan loved animals and always had a cat or a dog or even a horse at times!  

She was very thoughtful and gave willingly to many charities, always remembering how hard it was for her family just starting out in America.

But, mostly, Susan was a wonderful wife and mother and a friend to everyone she met.  The unconditional love she shared is her greatest legacy.

Susan was a loving mother to four children , Chris, Mark, Karen, and Carl, and was so grateful for her six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. 

Shooshan’s legacy of service, love, and faith will continue to inspire those who had the privilege of knowing her.  She was 98 years old at the time of her passing on February 28, 2025.

A funeral service will be held at St. Titus Church in Norristown, PA on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at 11:00 AM.  Burial will be private.  
 

Donations in her name may be made to the Gloucester County Animal Shelter in lieu of flowers.

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