Remembrance for Susan Armstrong of Healdsburg Peace Project

Susan Armstrong, a long-time friend of the Healdsburg Peace Project, died Wednesday, May 15, in her home in Healdsburg. Susan was an active member of HPP for many years. She died of metastatic breast cancer––quickly and peacefully, surrounded by her two loving adult children, Harvest and Atticus, and her two dear friends, Betsi Lewitter and Shonnie Brown.

Susan will be remembered by her many Peace Project friends for her amazing wit and humor as well as her dedication to peace and social justice. Anyone who visited her home will fondly remember her infamous "kitsch" collection. She loved the 1940s through 1960s and collected everything from pink poodles to Barbie dolls to Che in a bottle, fly swatters and Gumbys. Her politics were also represented in her collection and she once spearheaded a sale of George Bush pincushion dolls which we sold at the Petaluma Progressive Festival.

Her presence with HPP in the FFA Twilight Parade will never be forgotten. Her kitschy outfit––mariachis, gigantic peace earrings and sunglasses with an oversized flamingo––brought cheer to everyone. The last time she marched, she confronted the FFA judge's comments to our group and got her picture in the Healdsburg Tribune. She lived life fearlessly, speaking out against injustice when she saw it.

Susan was a truly unique individual and an intellect who loved traveling, good books and movies. Her travels took her from Route 66 (where she added monumentally to her kitsch collection) to Europe, Asia and Mexico, where she refreshed her love for great cemeteries and spent weeks studying history and architecture. Once a member of the Sweet Adelines, she also had a beautiful singing voice.

Most of all, Susan loved humor and defined the word "friend." She was always interested in her friends, loyal, loving and humorous to the end. She will be greatly missed.

Those who wish to honor her memory are invited to attend a celebration of Susan Armstrong's life, to be held at 4:00 on Friday, July 5 at Villa Chanticleer.

Shonnie Brown