Susan Mae Cavanaugh passed away peacefully in her Port Hadlock home February 15, 2024 with her family at her side. She was 75 years old.
Susan was born March 19, 1948 in CourD'Alene Idaho to James Chester Cavanaugh and Catherine Mary McNamara. She spent her early childhood in the Seabeck area. After the family relocated to southern California, Susan graduated from William S. Hart High school in Santa Clarita in 1967 where she met and married Charlie Dillenbeck. They were blessed with 2 daughters and made their home in Redding California. After divorce in 1982 Susan moved her daughters to Fairbanks Alaska, where she spent a year at the University of Alaska exploring her artistic passions. Moving back to the northwest she worked in various occupations, studied art and raised her daughters.
In 1985 she met Doug Paschal forming a bond that required years and periods apart to finally become a couple and get married. After marriage in 2000 Susan retired and was able to follow her passion on a full time basis. They lived in the Silverdale area until 2017 when they moved to Port Hadlock. Susan and Doug traveled by RV throughout the west from New Mexico to Alaska and Canada gathering inspirations. Susan's creative mediums included photography, oils, watercolors, block prints, stone and bronze sculpture, and eventually fabrics. She has studied with several well-known local artists and has been a member of numerous local galleries. Her house is filled with much of her work and her family treasures it and the beautiful quilts crafted with love.
Susan was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband (Doug) a sister (Connie), a brother (Jim), daughters (Debra Phillips-Peterson and Carla Strunk), two stepchildren (Deborah Borgen and Donald Paschal), 11 grandchildren, and 3 greatgrandchildren.
A Celebration of Life for friends and family will be held later in the spring.
