Obituary of Susan N. Coolican

COOLICAN, SUSAN NEWELL Of Horseheads, New York, passed away unexpectedly on the morning of August 15, 2017, two days shy of her 71st birthday. She was a caring and generous individual who constantly supported family and friends, all while giving back to the community and schools that she worked for as an educator. Susan was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on August 17, 1946 to Vivian and Robert Keith Newell. She and her family moved to Rome, New York where she graduated from Rome Free Academy. She received her B.S. degree from the State University of New York College at Buffalo and, after moving to the local area, an M.S. degree from Elmira College. Susan taught in the Elmira City School District for 37 years, served as part-time instructor at Elmira College for eight years, and continued to lead and teach workshops at many teaching centers and school districts in the local area. After she retired, she served on the Executive Board of the Family Reading Partnership of Chemung Valley and was Chairperson for the Bright Red Bookshelf at Wisner Park. Earlier this year, she was awarded the 2017 Woman of Achievement by the Alpha Rho Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, where she held many positions in the past and most recently served as Parliamentarian. After a career in helping so many local students become avid readers, The Sue Coolican Literacy Center at Broadway Elementary School is named after her. Susan is survived by her three sons: Sean, of San Diego, CA, Mark, of Dallas, TX, and Jeff, of Portland, ME; two siblings: Larry Newell, of Omaha, NE and Patty Cogswell of Columbus, OH; and many nieces, nephews, and other family members from both the Coolican and Newell families. She was predeceased by her sister, Sandra Marshburn, in 2012; her mother, Vivian, in 2002; and her father, Robert Keith, in 2005. The family will receive friends on Monday August 21, 2017 from 4-7PM at the LYNCH FUNERAL HOME 318 WEST BROAD STREET HORSEHEADS, NY. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Funeral Home on Tuesday August 22, 2017 at 11AM. Susan will be profoundly missed by family, friends, and all the others that she had a positive impact on throughout her life. In lieu of flowers, the family asks those to kindly consider making a donation in Susan's name to the Family Reading Partnership of Chemung Valley at familyreadingpartnership.org, P.O. Box 3493 Elmira, NY 14905, (607) 329-5675. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.lynchsfuneralhome.com