Doan

By saying “no” to her oncologist’s 6-month diagnosis, Susan Maynard Doan embarked on an 8-month long marathon against pancreatic cancer.

Susan lost her fight in the early morning of April 28, 2015, in her Treesdale home. She was 59.

She leaves behind her devoted husband, best friend and favorite chemo companion, Brent Doan, and their two gorgeous children, her favorite comedian, Joshua Jon Doan, 39, of Oakland, Cal., and her living legacy, daughter Stephanie Rose Doan, 24, of New York City.

Born in Fontana, Calif., Susan was a granola-crunching, California girl at heart. Her family moved up north while Susan was in grammar school and she grew up basking in the Petaluma sunshine. She often recalled spending much of her childhood playing in the great outdoors.

After graduating from Sonoma State with an English degree, Susan spent the next decade or so working an array of colorful jobs: a newspaper journalist, Tower of Power groupie, Macy’s salesgirl (where she met her husband — he sold shoes, so the two were a perfect pair), the assistant to a bigwig computer techie, a real-estate agent, a paralegal, a snail farmer and stay-at-home mama.

Finally, she returned to school in the mid-1990s to pursue her true passion of teaching.

Susan is predeceased by her golf-pro father, Ira Raymond Maynard, and survived by her mother, Dolores Tucker Maynard, and two adult brothers, Stephen and Perry, all of who still live in Northern California. Her older brother, Stephen, was born with Down syndrome and ultimately inspired her to become a special education teacher.

She received a B.S. in early childhood education from the University of North Texas and a M.A. Ed., in special education from Northern Kentucky University.

Susan had the patience of an angel and was able to kindle children with learning differences to love school at a point when their former teachers had given up on them. She taught elementary school for many years before settling in as an inclusion teacher at Penn Christian Academy in Butler County.

There Susan kick-started a stellar program for children with mild to moderate learning differences. Her students loved her fun, reformative teaching style, parents applauded their kids’ new enthusiasm for learning and fellow teachers knew her as always willing to fight for the best interest of not only her “kids” as she called them, but also any student in need. Whether that meant leading student council meetings, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army or leading a conga-line of students dancing around the school to Pharrell’s “Happy” song, Susan loved being a teacher.

She retired in June 2014, months before her diagnosis, but was still blessed with an outpouring of visits, cards, phone calls and prayers from her former students and their forever-thankful parents throughout her cancer battle. Their positivity really kept her going!

Susan’s family moved often, so she learned to pack boxes like a champ and make new friends wherever “home” was. Besides, she was the ultimate caregiver of her family, always putting the needs of her family before her own, up until the day she died.

During her 30 years of marriage to Brent, they lived in California, Texas, Connecticut, California again, Florida, Texas again, New Jersey, Ohio (she hated it), Texas a third time, and finally in Pennsylvania for the past six years.

Susan always hoped to return to the West Coast, however, she settled for a picturesque house on Lake Erie to squash her coastal blues. She and her husband spent most of their weekends up north taking their boat, Gypsea, voyaging on Lake Erie and collecting sea glass for her (maybe) blossoming jewelry making hobby.

Susan loved shopping, especially for anything labeled Coach or Louis Vuitton. She was also one of the original Aveda hair salon enthusiasts, and her beauty and style magnified with age. She listened to Carol King & James Taylor, even during the decade the two artists refused to perform together, and was at their first reunion concert. She encouraged both her children to reach their sky-high goals in life and was the best mom.

She had seen every Goldie Hawn or Meryl Streep or Diane Keaton movie ever and was an original ER fan (back when Clooney was just another handsome doctor). She was a Ben & Jerry’s foodie, a master wings, enchiladas and taco maker, threw the best birthday bashes, went to opera school for a brief few weeks before figuring out that she hated opera, sang car karaoke like a boss, and was above all a faithful servant to our Lord and Savior.

Susan will be missed by her family, friends and all who had the privilege of getting to know her.

DOAN — A memorial service for Susan Maynard Doan, who died Tuesday, April 28, 2015, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 9, 2015, at Mars Alliance Church, 997 Route 228. Mars. Her family will greet friends from 10 to 11 a.m. before the service.

A celebration of Susan’s life will follow at her family home.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Susan’s memory to The Lustgarten Foundation at lustgarten.org or mail to 1111 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, NY 11714. The Doan family would like to thank Celtic Hospice for its excellent care.

Arrangements are being handled by McDonald Aeberli Funeral Home, 238 Crowe Ave. Mars, and condolences are available at www.mcdonald-aeberli.com.