Susan Elaine Oatley Sterling was born on July 30 1967 in Jackson, Michigan. She was the only child of Robert George Oatley and Elaine Marie Wrozek. She was a happy child who loved her family especially spending time with her Aunt and Uncle Walter & Lucille Wrozek, her grandparents Walter & Jenny Wrozek, and her Aunt and Uncle Jim and Sheila Oatley. Her dad’s work took their family first to Missouri and then to Florida where the family settled. She went to St. Margaret Mary Catholic School and went on to graduate from Lake Howell High School.

She lived on her own from the time she was 16 and eventually met Steven Wayne Sterling, originally from Brownstown, Indiana with whom she married and had two sons, Shawn Steven Sterling, and Shane Byron Sterling. After their divorce she had a third son, Brandon Richard Geibert with Richard Edward Geibert. She was a very happy woman who devoted her time to raising her sons and was always immensely proud of all three of them. She loved animals and almost always had both a cat and a dog in her home. When her oldest son was in high school she had a deep experience of God at a Catholic retreat and began devoting her life more to Jesus and to prayer. She also began working in childcare around this time and was loved by all the children and parents whom she worked with.

She spent the later part of her life doing various volunteer activities with her local Catholic Churches, Annunciation in Altamonte Springs, FL & Nativity in Longwood, FL. She loved her extended family including her step parents, cousins and many close friends. She also became the primary caregiver for her mother Elaine after the latter suffered a stroke. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Walter & Jenny, her father, Robert and stepmom Connie Oatley, her step-dad Roger Fischer and step-brother David Nelson, and her uncle Walter. She is survived by her mother Elaine, her aunt Lucille (now passed), her Uncle Jim and Aunt Shelia, her former step-dad August, her former husband Steve, and father of her son Richard, all of whom she cared for deeply. Most of all she is survived by her sons whom she loved, Shawn Sterling, his wife Felicity and children Andrew & David, as well as her sons Shane Sterling and Brandon Geibert.

She passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 18 2024 just shy of her 57th birthday. A Mass of Christian remembrance was held at Annunciation Catholic Church. In her memory she would appreciate donations to Annunciation Catholic Church or Nativity Catholic Church or any non-kill animal shelter. She and her family would also appreciate any Masses offered for the repose of her soul at any Catholic Church. She is buried at Queen of Angels Cemetery near Franciscan San Pedro Center in Winter Park, FL. 

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