Susan "Susie" Ellen O'Bryan

LOUISVILLE - Susan (Susie) Ellen O’Bryan, 55, of Louisville, passed away on March 6, 2024.

She was born on June 9, 1968, and grew up in the Pleasure Ridge Park Neighborhood. She graduated from Western High School in the school’s inclusive education program. Susie had several jobs, including working in the mail room, for the United States Navy.

When Susie’s mother was no longer able to provide for her, Susie was accepted into Cedar Lake Residences Program. She resided with them for over 23 years. Cedar Lake Residential Programs offers a wide variety of community-based residential and support services options, including staffed residences, group homes, transitional living options, supported and independent living apartments, in-home services, case management, supported employment, community access and homemaker services.

Later in life Susie moved to Sycamore and Park Place, two of the three licensed Intermediate Care Facilities that Cedar Lake offers. These locations all have 24-hour nursing care, occupational, speech and physical therapy in addition to psychological and behavioral services.

Susie loved living in the Cedar Lake Communities. They provided everything she required for a fulfilling enjoyable life. The Staff loved Susie and they proved to be a very close family. She also had a lot of friends within the community.

Susie’s mom introduced her to the Special Olympics. She enjoyed competing in these events and won several Gold Medals. Susie was also a very passionate University of Kentucky Wildcat fan. Almost all her clothing was Wildcat outfits. One of her prize possessions was a personalized letter from John Calipari, thanking her for being a Wildcat fan.

Susie enjoyed Country Music, she had a substantial collection of country music CD,s. When ever the music came on the radio or TV she always could identify the singer.

One of Susie’s favorite activities was the Cedar Lake’s Enrichment Center (CLEC), an adult day program, that provided a person-centered, structured environment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Most of her friends attended and it created an uplifting atmosphere.

Susie is survived by three siblings, her sister Nancy O’Bryan, her brothers John (Pat) and Kevin O’Bryan (Kristie), her nephews and nieces: Jerry Barnes (Pam), Eric Barnes (Stacey), Barbara (James) Bloink, John O’Bryan IV (Jennifer), Kelly (David) Buszkiewicz, Jacob O’Bryan, Emily O’Bryan, and grand nieces and nephews. Susie is proceeded in death by her parents, John Louis and Mary Louise O’Bryan, her bother Michael, and sister Patricia K., and nephew Lyle.

A Celebration of Life will be on Tuesday, March 19 at 10:30 at Cedar Lake Lodge in the Chapel, 3301 Jericho Rd, La Grange, KY 40031.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Cedar Lake Lodge.