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Susan (Sue) Ellen Clark
Susan (Sue) Ellen Clark, a long time Sonoma Valley resident, died unexpectedly in her home on Sept. 3, 2012.
Sue was born on June 15, 1931, in San Francisco to Vincent and Marie Battaglia. She moved with her family to Sonoma in 1945, where they raised laying chickens in El Verano. Sue spent many hours helping her mother and father with their new business.
She attended Sonoma Valley High School and graduated in 1949. After graduation, Sue attended Napa Junior College and then transferred to St. Luke’s Nursing School in San Francisco where she graduated in 1955 with a registered nursing degree. Her first position as a nurse was at the original Sonoma Valley Hospital located in the Sonoma foothills. She continued her career at the Sonoma Developmental Center. Following her time at the SDC, Sue transferred to the current Sonoma Valley Hospital to begin her 20-year career as a hospital supervisor. She retired in 1995.
Sue met and married Sonoma resident Ray Clark in 1956. They were happily married until Ray’s death in 2003. Sue is predeceased by her mother and father and survived by her two sons, David (Linda) Clark and Robert (Carol) Clark, both of Sonoma. She is the adored grandmother of Shannon, Bridget, Jennifer and Jessica. Sue was very proud of her granddaughters and their accomplishments and always enjoyed keeping up with their activities. Sue is also survived by her brother, Frank Battaglia and nieces, Jean and Joyce, of San Francisco.
Sue and Ray enjoyed the outdoors and particularly enjoyed camping at the coast and fishing at Butt Lake and Knights Landing with their family and friends. They even were able to travel north to Alaska. She created many fond memories with her children and grandchildren by including them in vacations to Hawaii and Yellowstone. Her love of travel also led her to explore England and Mexico on her own. They were members of the Sonoma Valley chapter of the Good Sam’s RV Club and shared many good times and memories with fellow campers and friends. She was an avid gardener and also volunteered her time to the Sonoma Valley Hospital Auxiliary.
As per Sue’s wishes a private service will be held.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Sonoma Valley Hospital Auxiliary, P.O. Box 610, Sonoma, CA 95476, in memory of Sue.
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Sue was one of the best, most concientious nurses I have ever worked with. She was the last nurse at Sonoma Valley Hospital to stop wearing her nursing cap. I honestly don't remember if she stopped when she retired or if it happened prior to that. But, I do remember that she always felt that she wasn't attired properly at work unless her cap was on. She was so proud of being a nurse and her love of her job was always reflected in the kind way she spoke and treated patients and her co-workers. She will be missed!
When I became a nurse in 1981 and moved from the night shift to SVH's pm shift, I was fortunate to have had Sue as one of a few wonderful supervisors. She was quiet and under-stated but also had a temper! I learned so much about being a nurse from her and will remember her always. Meegan Murphy