Susan Jane Gornall, beloved wife and best friend of William Gornall for 58 years, passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, December 1, 2025. Susan was born in Toronto, Canada on February 8, 1943. She was the only child of Clinton and Ruth Sutton.
Her perseverance and determination were inspired early in life by her cherished father who taught her to swim and fish despite being crippled from spinal meningitis. At 17, Susan was traumatized by his sudden heart attack and death, but with her mother’s support she finished high school and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Toronto in 1965. There, in her final year, she met William as he was finishing his Physics degree. As he attended graduate school, Susan enrolled in Teachers College where she fell in love with educating young children. This led her to teach kindergarten and start one of the first pre-kindergarten programs in Toronto for children under 5 years old.
In 1967, she married William. After he completed his PhD in Physics, they moved to Boston in 1970 for his post-doctoral research at Harvard University and subsequent professorship at Brandeis University. In 1971 their first daughter Teri was born followed by Heather in 1974 and Susan devoted her life to nurturing her own children. They all moved to Fairport, New York in 1977, where William joined a small company named Burleigh Instruments. Susan remained dedicated to raising her daughters, supporting them to excel in piano lessons and sports — Teri in gymnastics, and Heather in figure skating. Once the girls became independent, Susan was drawn back to her first love: teaching young children. She joined and later became director of the Brighton Preschool/Parent Program where she applied her music and teaching skills to encourage learning in pre-kindergarten children.
Susan was very active all her life. She loved exercising, yoga, tai chi, swimming, skating, skiing, tennis, golf, travel, and sailing with her husband. She spent every summer since 1968 at her cottage in Muskoka, Canada — hiking, swimming, canoeing, water skiing, baking, playing card games and relaxing with friends and family. She loved music, having studied piano growing up, and enjoyed singing in the church choir for many years. She was also devoted to her church community, managing the Sunday school and volunteering time to various outreach projects including mission trips to hurricane damaged areas. Her love for children led her to volunteer at Daystar, an organization devoted to helping children with special healthcare needs.
Her life will be celebrated by her husband, daughters and sons-in-law: William Gornall, Teri and Brian McMahon, and Heather and Dave Dolman; as well as her brothers-in-law Doug Gornall and Tom Gornall, her sister-in-law Catherine Fisher, and her beloved grandchildren: Mackenzie and Madison McMahon and Zachery Dolman.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at Mountain Rise United Church of Christ, 2 Mountain Rise, Fairport, NY. All are welcome to a lunch reception at the church following the service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Susan J. Gornall to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org), the world’s largest non-profit funder of Alzheimer’s and dementia research.
16 responses to “Gornall , Susan Jane”
Oh, so many fond memories Dave and I have made over the near 50 years with Susan and Bill. If someone were to ask how I would describe Susan, I would begin by saying that she was one of our dearest, most positive and happy , friends. She was devoted to her Bill, her family, her grandchildren and her friends.
Her warm, welcoming smile and personality will never be forgotten. Our sympathy to the family that loved and cared so beautifully for her.
I always enjoyed our get togethers during Settlers Club and am happy that our daughters have been friends all these years. Susan was a truly kind person who loved her family and I am sad to hear of her passing . Deepest sympathy. Marilyn Lyons
We’ve lost an incredible friend with Sue’s passing. Her gentle spirit touched all who were fortunate enough to have known her. I will treasure the times we spent together over the last fifty years. I will miss you, my friend.
Bill and family, we are so saddened by Susan’s passing. Even though we didn’t meet until our retirement years at Breckenridge, we were lucky to form a close relationship. Susan was special and we loved our times together, especially playing tennis and cards (marbles.) Your compassion and dedication in the difficult years are an inspiration for all of us. May she rest in heavenly peace.
Claire and John Finnegan
Our deepest sympathies to you and your family at this sad time. May God bless you all. We wish for Susan everlasting peace, love and joy.
Susan and Bill have been wonderful companions and neighbours at Muldrew Lake. We will miss Sue terribly. She brought so much joy and love to the world.
I will remember Sue for happy times on Muldrew Lake and her love of entertaining her many friends there. Humming bird nests wonderful chocolate desserts and trips to Candy Mountain are cherished memories! Sending big hugs sincere condolences to Bill and the family.
My deepest sympathy to Bill and his family. I’ve watched how much Bill and Susan loved each other past two+ years I was working with Susan. I’m going to miss her warm smile on her face… miss the time we sing together… I think she’s one of rare person who laughed at my jokes. I’ll be thinking of you Susan. Rest in peace. My prayers are with your family…
As one of the Gornall’s dearest neighbors we send our deepest sympathy to Bill & family.
John & Sue Davis
We are so sorry to hear of Susan’s passing. We have not seen much of the family for many years but we have followed your news in family cards and letters. We are sure that Susan is at peace after a full and rich life. Bob and Linda Cooper
Professor Boris Stoicheff, thesis advisor of William, once told me that William chose to pursue his PhD degree at the University of Toronto instead of Harvard in order to stay close to Susan, revealing his love to Susan and to each other.
Chin Su,
Student of William Gornall
Bill, Heather & Terri, I was so sorry to hear of Sue’spassing. She brought so much joy to the Mountain Rise community. I was privileged to have known her.
Sincere condolences to all of you. We were so sorry to hear of Sue’s passing. I have many special memories of the years of our friendship.
Jill sends condolences to Heather and Jeff to Terri
Sad, sincere condolences. Sue was my cousin. We met when I was a teenager living in London, England, with my dad, David, her dad’s brother. She was lovely, travelling around Europe. Fond memories
I am so sorry to hear of Sue’s passing. I did her hair every month for many years. I have thought about her so many times over these past few years. She was so devoted to Bill and her girls.. and of course, to her beautiful grandbabies. I always looked forward to our visits and will remember her kindness and sweetness. May the memories you share bring you comfort.
So sorry to hear of Sue’s passing. My love and prayers are sent to the whole family.