Obituary of Susan M. Watson

On the evening of June 10, 2017, and after a long and difficult battle with a progressive, terminal lung disease, the Lord saw fit to call to himself the vivacious, self-confident, kind, gentle, beautiful person we know as wife, mother, grandmother and friend.  She left this life as she had lived it. Peacefully, with courage, dignity, and grace; surrounded by family and a firm belief in the promises of her Savior.  Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 17, 1946 to the late Alvin and Mary Johnson, Susan was the oldest of five children.  She married the love of her life Chet in 1967 and began her first, and most important career as a Mom.  As a Navy wife, she made homes and immersed herself in raising her family in Wisconsin, California, and Hawaii before planting roots in Glenville, New York. 
Always seeking to satisfy her thirst for knowledge, Susan earned her paralegal degree from her favorite community college, SCCC and after graduation, worked for the law offices of Wemple and Caruso for many years. Susan earned her Bachelor’s Degree from St. Rose and her Masters from SUNY Albany. Shortly after becoming a CPA, Susan opened her own firm in downtown Schenectady. By doing so, she controlled her own destiny and was a force to be reckoned with in the male dominated accounting field.  As owner of Susan M. Watson, CPA which evolved into Watson, Peterson & Company, Susan loved working with her clients and was an incredible leader to her staff and role model to her daughter Heather, who took over the firm when Susan retired in 2016.   
As a ground breaker herself, Susan was committed to helping women integrate more fully into the workforce and achieving increasing levels of participation and responsibility in management positions. She sought to achieve this through education and mentorship and served on various boards and committees which promoted this philosophy. On a personal and professional level she cared for many of her elderly clients’ financial as well as quality of life needs.
Susan’s departure from this world will leave a tremendous emptiness in the hearts of Chet, her best friend and husband of 50 years; children Mark (Mary) Watson of Bremerton WA, Marie (Michael) Ricciardi of Chantilly VA, Michael Watson of Glenville, NY, Christina (Steven) Meier of Latham, NY, and Heather (Wayne) Peterson of Glenville, NY; grandchildren Genevieve, Mark Jr., Michele, Domenic, Jennifer, Reece, and Shannon.  Susan also leaves behind her brother Wayne (Patricia) Johnson, and sisters Linda Johnson, Judith (Dan) Henke and Laurie (Peter) Byrne as well as many nieces and nephews and great grandchildren.  
The family would like to give a special thank you to Dr. Beagle, of Albany Med, Dr. Malanga of Schenectady Pulmonology, and the wonderful staff at Ellis Hospital who cared for her in her journey into the next life, gently and at peace.  
The “Susabration” (celebration of Susan’s life) will be held at the Glenville Funeral Home on Friday, June 16, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A Mass will be held at St. Joseph’s Church First Street, Scotia, NY on Saturday, June 17, 2017 at 10:00 am. There will be no internment following Mass.   
Although flowers are incredibly thoughtful, the family asks that you consider making a gift in memory of Susan to the Heritage Home for Women, Schenectady, New York, the SCCC Foundation or to the Schenectady Kiwanis Club.