We're here to help in Vancouver —
(604) 857-5779
All Obituaries
Mary Susan Read-Friedmann
April 16, 2022
On April 16th, 2022, the world lost an angel on Earth. A wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend to many, Mary (Susan) Read-Friedmann, 57 years young received a call to let her know that her work here is done.
Susan was born and raised in Ottawa and was very proud of the 5 generations that lived and worked in the Ottawa Valley. She was a Political Science graduate of Carleton University who traveled extensively following her boyfriend and the “band” to London where she lived, worked, and traveled for over 5 years. Susan had many adventures where she made many wonderful friendships that lasted through her years.
Susan moved back to Canada and followed her parents to the West Coast of Canada where she met her husband and partner Bjorn and they started their wonderful Big Tent Family including 4 sons, Kai, Grayson, Kaden, and Toren. After 10 years of urban life, the family packed up and moved from downtown Vancouver BC and settled into Tsawwassen BC, embracing, and immersing themselves into its wonderful community.
Susan and Bjorn created a home where everyone is always welcome. The door is always open to friends, family, and homestays. The boys understand this and extend this to friends or anyone in need. Whether it be a special occasion or simply a bad day where you needed a shoulder to lean on or just needed a space away from home, the Read-Friedmann home is also your home. Whether it was the amazing camping trips or the expansion of the Christmas Eve gathering over the years, the Read-Friedmann’s always believe “the more, the merrier”.
Susan will be deeply missed by all her beautiful boys, husband and best friend Bjorn, her sons Kai (Abby) Grayson, Kaden and Toren and by her beautiful friends.
She leaves behind large extended families of the Reads, Friedmanns, Hughes, Gormans, Mardauses, Byrnells and Hermanns, many cousins, aunts, uncles and friends in Canada, US and abroad. She was well loved and will be missed immensely.
Susan was a person who made true friends wherever she would go. She developed deep loving friendships and would go to great lengths to help anyone in a time of need or at a time of celebration. Her loves in life included Bjorn, the boys, extended family and of course her beautiful friends.
Upon her passing, she wished to thank all her special girls who helped her and the family through her medical journey. You are now a part of the Big Tent Family.
Last but certainly not least, Susan wanted to include a very special thank you to her sister, Tina for the amazing love and care through her final days.
The family is forever grateful.Susan was looking forward to becoming a Grandmother one day. For now, she will watch over her husband, children, and the future grandchildren as their Guardian Angel.
A celebration of life will be taking place at:
South Delta Baptist Church
1988 56th St, Delta, BC on June 4th 2022
1:30pm
Tea, coffee, and pastries to follow.
In keeping with tradition, The Read-Friedmanns open their home at 6pm, at 787 Tudor Court, Delta BC to everyone who wants to gather. “The more, the merrier”. Please join us in celebrating Susan.
Love and Chaos=Magic and Happiness.
Messages of Condolence
Beautiful. Just like Suze.
Love her. Love you. Miss her. So much.
-
Heli
This is beautiful, and captures who Susan was. ❤️. She was so loved, and is so missed.
-
Rossana
Great and honouring for Susan - we love her, love you and sorry for your loss ❤️
-
Birgit and Florian
She and the whole family were like a second home to our son Otto, who was meant to be the first exchange student (from Germany). He loved Susan for her warm-hearted personality and her ability, to arrange a happy and organised home for everyone. As the rest of us picked him up after 6 months we would have loved to stay….love to Susan ❤️ and you all Bjorn, Kai, Grayson, Kaden and Toren
-
Nicola
Our memories of our friendship and the amazing times we spent together will stay in our hearts forever. This is a beautiful tribute to a very special person.
-
Deb, Chris, Finn and Erin
We miss you Susan.
Carola, Lucia, Elias and Thomas
-
Thomas Mardaus
We miss you Susan.
Carola, Lucia, Elias and Thomas
-
Thomas Mardaus
So sorry to hear of the loss of Susan. I have many fond memories of Susan growing up.. she had such a kind soul. My deepest condolences to her family.
-
Trish Ford
The open house, welcoming everybody, loving care for the boys (and so many host boys over the years)….Yes- these are only a few things that remind us of Susan and let us say ‚Thank You‘. Our loving thoughts with Bjorn and the boys ❤️
-
Annette
Lovely tribute. Our hearts are with Bjorn, Kai, Gray, Kade and Tor. She was a beautiful soul and will be greatly missed. ❤️
-
Ngaire and Brian Meadows
So sorry for your loss
-
Sharon Stoker
Our love goes out to you you. As you grieve our family is here to hold your heavy hearts and help you smile. Condolences from my family to yours … we adore you
-
Leslie, Ella, Georgia & Lincoln
What a lovely dedication. Great lady, great loss, great sadness. She was loved and she is missed.
-
Jennifer Stirling
I am deeply sorry for your loss. Susan was a beautiful soul. ❤️
-
Lynda Eccott
Much love to everyone. May the arms of the community wrap around all of you to shoulder each of you now and forever.
-
Linda Mallard
I did not know Susan but this showed on my FB feed and I was touched by what I read. I am also a Carleton grad and wonder if we shared the same Poli Sci classes.
My heartfelt condolences to her friends and family for their loss.
-
Chris Yoblonski
Susan has left a huge hole in all of our hearts. I miss her terribly. Much love to you all xx
-
Lou, Lee, Ben and Freya
My beautiful friend Susan you are so dearly missed. There are no adequate words but a beautiful tribute Bjorn and Tina.x
-
Parish Family
Brian and I are so sad to hear about Susan, we send our deepest condolences to the family. You have a beautiful Guardian Angel watching over you now.
-
Lorna & Brian Van Straaten
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I taught Kaden at South Park ( grade 4/5 class) and had the wonderful opportunity to meet Susan. She was incredibly lovely and was more than happy to bring in the family lizards to show the class. Know that she will be so missed by many.
-
Jamie Sadler
We send are deepest condolences to the entire family. Susan and Bjorn raised 4 wonderful boys. What a beautiful tribute to a wonderful wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend , she will be missed.
-
Carson Family
I met Susan about 30 years ago when she came to London and worked for the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. She was radiantly beautiful with an effervescent personality. We became friends and I have such happy memories of those days with the group of friends in OPCS, including Deb and Chris. Whenever I was able to get together and spend time with Susan and Bjorn - whether in the UK or BC - we had great times. Susan was always full of joie de vivre, but that spirit and her personality still remains in many wonderful memories, not just with me, but clearly with so many others as these lovely tributes demonstrate. Susan had an impact on, and enriched, so many lives.
-
Glenn
Beautiful tribute. Beautiful Susan. Our hearts and love to your family always.
-
The Pronyk Family
Always in our memories, the good times in Tsawwassen BC and your visit in Bremen. She will keep an eye on you guys as you said like a Guardian Angel. We will miss her. Our doors are always open for you. You all know that.
-
Stephan, Ingrid, Isabelle and Dominik
Bjorn and family, my condolences to you, it’s so tough to lose a loved one, someone so integral to all of you. Your memories of her will be with you always and bring you comfort through this difficult time. Thinking of you.
-
Kathy Normam
A beautiful dedication to Susan and her family. Always the most welcoming host. A big loss to all that crossed her life and especially her boys. We are feeling your loss and sadness. Sending love
-
Luce, Buddy and Jean-Luc
Bjorn, so sorry to hear of Susan’s passing. I remember watching soccer games over the years in the rain and cold with Susan and the gang. Hopefully the good memories will help you and the boys through these difficult times. Take care. Neil Arnett
-
Neil Arnett
We know Susan and Bjorn and all the boys from our office. Susan was always at their appointments and always a pleasure to talk to. Hearing about all their family adventures was so inspiring. She loved to experience as much as possible. The boys are all very polite and kind young men. The credit goes to their amazing parents. We are so very sorry to hear about Susan’s passing and will miss her dearly at the office. Hugs to all her family and friends.
Dr .Liat, Karen, Donna, Donna, Shannon and Chelsea
-
South Delta orthodontics
What a beautiful tribute to a very special woman! We are extremely sorry for your loss and our thoughts and prayers are with Bjorn, Kai, Grayson, Kaden, Toren and her other family members.
-
Jeanne & Lindsay Nord
I feel lucky to have known Susan - such a kind hearted, generous soul. What a huge loss for all who knew her, and for all those who never had the chance to. Thinking of you, Bjorn and boys.
-
Marlene
We cannot begin to imagine the tremendous impact that this has had on Susan’s family. What a beautiful tribute that captured Susan’s spirit so well. Our program always knew that our students in her care were treated with such love and care and had so much fun! Her loss is felt deeply here in Delta and across the globe in the many lives she touched. Our condolences and warm thoughts.
-
Karen, on behalf of the Delta ISP team
I knew Susan and Bjorn because my son Liam was in school with Kai from K to Grade 2.
I’m so shocked and sorry to hear about her loss. She was an incredibly friendly and warm woman.
My condolences to Bjorn, the boys and the whole family.
-
Cathryn Atkinson
Our deepest sympathy to the whole family.
-
Sandra and Richard Adamson
Our family had the great privilege to know and spend time with Susan, we are deeply saddened by the loss of her beautiful light. Our hearts are with her family and friends during such a hard time. We will miss the laughter, love and humour Susan brought to this world but will forever be grateful for the time that we did have. Thinking always of your family, Bjorn and boys and thank you Tina for being with Susan every day these past months, she was so loved.
-
Jordan-Knox family
Bjorn and family, we are so sorry for your loss.
Gillespie-Wrathall Family
-
Anna Gillespie
Dear Bjorn and Boys,
We send our deepest condolences on your loss of Susan. Our hearts are heavy. We hope the love you are surrounded by gives you some comfort. She truly was a beautiful and kind hearted woman.
-
Moore Family
My condolences to you and your family, so sorry for your loss.
-
Richard
We have such happy memories of Susan when she lived and worked in London and of the good times spent with Bjorn, Susan and the boys when they visited us here. We will always cherish our wonderful trip to Canada for your wedding. xxxx
-
Nikki, David, James and Rachel
Thoughts with you and the family - my mum and dad loved your mum greatly, and she was a special part of their lives. Sending lots of love
-
James Bennett
Dear loving family of the lovely Susan, we grieve with you and pray for you as you try to come to terms with your great loss. It is most difficult to understand the way life enfolds for each one of us, we pray that you are granted all the resources you need, and will need, as time goes by. Hugs to all.
-
Muschi and Khalid Aziz and family
Beautiful tribute to Susan!! It is truly Susan - A generous soul, always helpful and thoughtful. Always put others first before herself. I will miss you lots, my dear friend!!
-
Irene Y Coschizza
I remember, one year, while we lived a block away from the Reads, Christmas caroling with Susan and her sisters, and how we all enjoyed hot chocolate afterwards.
I was around fifteen years old when I began downhill skiing. It was Susan who took me to the Edelweiss Ski Resort, and we rode a chartered school bus. She showed me how to use the ski lifts and the basics, like snowplowing on a small beginner's hill. Once comfortable, Susan brought me to the top of a much larger hill. When I turned the corner from the lift and looked down the mountain to see a tiny-looking resort, I stopped and said, "No way." Susan went down the hill about fifty feet past me; she stopped, turned around, and beckoned me to follow. Susan helped me easily conquer the mountain in fifty-foot increments.
Shortly into my professional career, I moved to the United States and lost contact with most of my friends in Canada.
Seven years ago, while I was in Canada for my father's funeral, I was so happy to see Susan again and meet her husband and boys for the first. I realized how I missed you.
I have not had to opportunity to see you again, and now I miss you even more.
-
Roydon Hughes
A beautiful and touching Celebration of Life for Susan this afternoon. Grayson’s wish for us each to carry forward a part of how Susan made us better people was on display through the heartfelt reflections and stories shared by family and friends. Our condolences Bjorn, Kai, Grayson, Kaden and Toren.
-
The Calvert Family
A loving tribute and service Bjorn. You all captured your “Suze’s” spirit so beautifully. Big hugs.
-
Tracie Moser
I came by today to your service; My respects and condolences to you, Bjorn, and your boys. Best Wishes, Vince.
-
vince bubica
Bjorn, Kai, Grayson, Kaden and Toren;
Our sincerest condolences for you at this time.
You have our deepest sympathy and unwavering support.
Wishing you peace, comfort, courage, and lots of love at this time of sorrow.
Our heart goes out to you at this difficult time.
Thank you for the beautiful Celebration of Life!
-
John and Marlene Schroeder
Subscribe to updates
Please enter your email address to subscribe to new updates. A confirmation email will be sent to verify your subscription.