Susan Kay Holmes' Obituary
Susan K. Antilla Holmes became our Guardian Angel on March 10, 2021. Susan was born in Tacoma, WA on August 28,1951. She grew up in Tacoma, attending Fern Hill Elementary, Baker Middle School & graduating from Mt. Tahoma High School in 1969. Sue continued her education at Bates Technical College, graduating with a Dental Assistant certificate.
It was during the summer of 1970 when she met her soulmate and love of her life Roger. He loved her long hair, spunky personality and kind heart and she loved his GTO Judge, his red hair and baseball uniform! After a couple months of dating, they were engaged and married, July 23, 1971; they were preparing to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this coming July. Sue and Rog settled in Tacoma. In 1976, Sue joined Roger over in Okinawa Japan where he was stationed with the Air Force, and 9 months later they welcomed their first-born red headed bundle of joy, Leslie. They were so in love with her and wanted to grow their family, so 2-1/2 years later they welcomed their 2nd redhead bundle of joy, Amy. After 5 years of being a family of 4, they welcomed their 3rd and last redhead bundle of joy, Kaitlin. Being a Mom was Sue’s pride and joy. Anytime people would comment on her beautiful girls and their beautiful red hair, the question would always be asked “where did they get their red hair”? and she would answer, “Both parents have to carry the gene for red hair, so I get credit”! She’d always tell her girls that she didn’t care how old they were, if they ever colored their hair, she would shave it off!
Sue loved her girls and was very involved in their education. You would often see Sue in the hallways of her girls’ schools, read the PTA newsletters she wrote, or see her as she ran the high school concession stand for many years. Sue loved being her girls’ biggest cheerleader and
you would see her in the stands at the high school sports games watching her girls cheer, or in the stands at the softball fields watching her girls play fastpitch. As the girls got older, she became their strongest supporter in their next ventures, Leslie with being an amazing teacher,
Kaitlin with making her beautiful cakes and Amy with her growing spray tan business.
After watching her girls grow and marry, Sue started her next big adventure: GRANDMA.
Sue loved her role of grandma and her grandchildren were the sparkle of her eyes! She enjoyed watching her grandkids twice a week until they were school aged. You would often see Sue back at the fields, in the auditoriums, and in the stands at the gyms as she cheered her grandchildren doing their thing on the basketball court, dance stage, and soccer and baseball fields. There was very minimal her grandchildren could do wrong in her eyes and spoiling them was her favorite thing to do!
If Sue wasn’t watching her grandkids or attending one of their many activities, you would find her in her beautiful yard, planting her flowers. She was a devoted gardener and loved being in her element in her yard. Sue had the most beautiful flower baskets and containers on the block. She loved being outside in the backyard under the gazebo. Her other
love was camping with Rog and the dogs. The beach was where she loved to be where she could hear the ocean waves crashing. She loved to relax by the fire and read her book.
Once fall hit and October came around, you would know that Sue would have her house and yard prepped for Halloween. She LOVED Halloween. Each year her collection of witches and Halloween décor would increase. The yard was the talk of the town and was even placed on the trick or treating map this past year for Tacoma!
We can’t talk about Sue without mentioning Facebook. She loved the Facebook and loved keeping up with everyone. Sue knew the up and up on everyone, remembered all birthdays, knew when someone’s baby hit a milestone, and she loved giving Roger and the girls the latest 411.
Sue’s loves were dogs and babies. She couldn’t walk past either without stopping to ask how old they were or to try to get a smile. Sue never knew a stranger. Whether it was the grocery store, at the beach, or at a ballgame, Sue made new friends wherever she went.
We could go on and on about Sue as she was one of a kind. She was fierce, loving, caring, compassionate, and friendly. Her absence here on Earth is felt deeply. However, we know she is watching over us as our guardian angel and brightest star in the sky.
Susan is preceded in death by her parents Walfred and Nadine Antilla, sisters Linda Holly and Sandy VanWeyenbergh, and brother Larry Antilla. Susan is survived by her loving husband of 49 years (50 in July) Roger Holmes, her daughters Leslie (Tony) Hartley, Amy Taylor (Griff her grand dog) and Kaitlin (Cole) Nagel, as well as her beloved grandchildren, her pride and joy Cooper, Reese, Cameron, Kasen, her fur babies Mocha and Charley, sisters Sharon (Tom) Hume and Cindy (Curt) Goodwin, and countless nieces, nephews’ cousins, and friends.
While Sue is not physically here, her spirit and spunk lives on in all of us. Rest in peace Sue. We love you BIG MUCH!
We invite you to join us to celebrate Susan at Farm 12 in Puyallup on Sunday, April 11th at 1:00pm
https://www.farm12.org/
LOCATION
We’re located at the Germaine Korum Center
FARM 12 RESTAURANT & EVENTS
3303 #B 8th Ave SE
Puyallup, WA 98372
Masks will be required
In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to your local animal rescue as Sue was an avid animal lover. Some of her favorite rescues are: Big Dog Rescue https://bigdogrescueproject.org/
Old Dog Haven https://olddoghaven.org/
P.A.C.K https://www.paypal.com/donate/cmd=_sxclick&hosted_button_id=DCWXTERBFFH5L&fbclid=IwAR0TV4zRxmh9VU8Z0w0wmfAeEag3GmXtnHqJBoOSx6gxlTlA3rkYjzfBZWs Tacoma Humane Society https://www.thehumanesociety.org/
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