SUZANNE MARY STRUBLE, 85, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, February 15, 2023, while in hospice care in Mesa, Arizona. Her health deteriorated after suffering from a broken hip that left her bedridden. Born in Miami, she was the eldest of three children of John and Ruth Stafford.
She is survived by her son John Rochford and his wife Leah; son Patrick Rochford and his wife Sharon; grandchildren Ryan, Jake, Stephanie and Kyle Rochford; great grandchildren Bradley and Milo; sister Joan Beasley; brother Terry Stafford and his wife Alexis; nieces and nephews Lisa and Chad, Kimberly and Matthew.
She married Richard Rochford in Ohio and divorced in 1963. After her divorce, Suzanne moved to California and raised her children as a single mother working as an executive secretary. It was during her work at Hughes Helicopters that she met William “Bill” Struble and they were married on February 14, 1986, in Culver City. She then moved with her husband to Mesa, Arizona when he was transferred to Boeing headquarters, until Bill eventually retired. They later moved to Amboy, Indiana where Bill worked farming with his nephew. During this time, she enjoyed travelling with her husband, visiting family and attending hockey sport events for her grandson, Jake, in various states. Suzanne also loved a good bargain and enjoyed yard sales and thrift shops, searching for any overlooked treasure. Bill was on the job when he passed away from a heart attack in 2015. After Bill’s death, Suzanne moved back to Mesa to be closer to family and enjoy her golden years.
Funeral services for her cremated remains will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California, sometime in late April or May.
So sorry to hear of Suzanne’s passing. We were good friends when she and Bill lived in Peru, IN. Bill was a classmate and we miss him and have missed Suzanne since she moved after he passed. Good people, good friends. My condolences. Ellen Cattin Harvey.
May Suzanne Rest In Peace. I know that she and my brother Bill had some happy times together. My sincere condolences to her sons and their families.
I always enjoyed visits with Suzanne and my 2nd cousin Bill. Important part of my life !!!!
Rest in peace Mom! Glad you are free now from that broken body. It was painful for all of us to see what you had to go through in the end. I am what I am today largely because of you. Raised by a single Mom struggling financially for my whole childhood, you somehow were able to make it all work. Looking back now as an adult, it’s hard for me to fathom how you did it. No child support, living in poverty, you still managed to send us to Catholic School, put us in sports and kept us out of trouble. In the end, through all the trials and tribulations we went through (and there were many), I turned out okay Mom. Thank you!
She lived a life that was true to herself and was not afraid to make big moves to get what she wanted. She was bold, creative , and will not be forgotten. – rian, her granddaughter
I had lost touch with Suzanne, but she had been weighing on my mind for the last two or three weeks. Regretfully, I was unable to find contact information for her. She and Bill were both wonderful people who leave us with only warm memories.
My mentor at work, my confirmation sponsor, and my dear friend who taught me so much. You lit up a room with your smile and energy and intelligence. I’m so glad we reconnected before you left us. Rest in peace dear lady you are loved and will be missed always.