Susan Ortler

On February 18, 2016, we said goodbye to Susan Ortler. During her 68 years, Susan served the people she loved in a myriad of unique ways, a prism with many reflections. Her loyalty to her friends and family was unsurpassed.

Susan came from the intrepid Finney clan, the descendents of pioneers and adventurers. Having the beauty and tenacity common to the daughters of Robert and Doris Finney, she swam at school, sang in the choir, studied Russian and served as an example to her younger sisters, Ann, Janet, and Elizabeth.

Jim Ortler stole her heart at the tender age of 17 – Susan and Jim wed in 1966 and raised their children, John, Christopher and Carolyn in San Juan Capistrano. Jim often had three jobs and Susan at least two – including the tireless jobs of raising three children and volunteering hundreds of hours to St. Clement’s Episcopal Church. Susan and Jim parted amicably after 22 years and remained close friends.

When her nest became empty, Susan moved to Fallbrook to care for her sick parents. She became a teacher at Fallbrook High School and a member of St. John's Episcopal Church sharing her love of literature at work and her love of music and fellowship at St. John’s.

Susan cherished her seven grandchildren beyond measure. She lived for their vacations together. She stayed up all night baking them treats and sent cards on holidays. Every Christmas she bought them too many gifts. Jake, Dylan, Ryan, Jamon, Liam, Stella and Griffin will have a guardian angel forever.

Susan’s diagnosis a year ago with a rare and aggressive form of lymphoma did not break her spirit. The grit and perseverance she had shown her whole life undoubtedly put the cancer to task.

Susan is now enjoying the life beyond, her spirit in God's hands and her memory in our hearts. Please join us for her memorial service at St. John's Episcopal Church, 434 North Iowa Street, Fallbrook, at 11 a.m., on Saturday, February 27, 2016. The family welcomes flowers, or, alternatively, donations to either St. John's Episcopal Church or UCSD Moores Cancer Center.