On the morning of August 12, 2022, Suzanne was taken to her heavenly home to see her Savior face to face. Suzanne departed peacefully while being comforted by her daughter Heather La-Follette and her son-in-law James La-Follette at their home in Cosperville, Indiana. She was 83 years old.

Suzanne Abajay was born in Saginaw, Michigan, on October 2, 1938. She was the firstborn and only daughter of Harry Bartlett and Elizabeth (Leach) Bartlett.

Suzanne grew up in Huntington Woods, Michigan, graduating from Berkley High School in 1957. As a young adult Suzanne completed cosmetology school and worked for several years as a hairdresser before marrying Joseph Abajay in 1968 and moving with him to Scottsdale, Arizona.

A couple years later, she and Joseph returned to Southfield, Michigan, where their only child Heather was born. Eventually, the family moved to Lake Angelus, Michigan; then after Heather was raised, Suzanne and Joseph lived in Northville, Michigan.

In 2010, Suzanne and Joseph moved to Indiana, living in Warsaw, Winona Lake, and finally in Albion.

Suzanne enjoyed life with many friends. She loved going out to eat, attending various sporting events, shopping, dancing, and playing card games—Pinochle was her favorite. She was an avid crafter and was often working on a painting, a drawing, or a flower arrangement.

Suzanne was also a very involved, stay-at-home mother and an adoring and active grandmother. Some of her favorite activities with family included visiting local amusements and zoos, hosting elaborate Christmas parties, playing Pinochle, and dining out.

Yellow was her favorite color.

Crab legs were her favorite food (or maybe it was ice cream?).

Christmas was her favorite time of year.

The Detroit Pistons were her favorite sports team; the Detroit Lions were a close second. She knew more sports facts and trivia than most, whether the topic was basketball, football, baseball, hockey, or golf.

And she loved all things soft and cute, including bunnies, babies, plush pillows, and warm comforters.

Suzanne had heard the gospel of Jesus Christ dying for sinners several times, and each time she had rejected it, saying, “That’s fine for others, but it’s not for me.” One Christmas season when she was in her 60’s, Suzanne was watching a television preacher explain the gift of eternal life in Christ alone. At that point, God opened her heart to understand and respond to the gospel. God saved her and became a very important part of her later life.

She loved reading her Bible, and she would often study it carefully with more interest in learning than simply in reading. Prayer was special to Suzanne as well. Her prayers were unencumbered as she simply talked to her Father as though He were sitting right there with her. Every week Suzanne made it a priority to attend church in order to worship God, learn, and grow with others. Since 2015, her church home was Cosperville Baptist Church in Wawaka, Indiana, where she attended regularly right up to her final days on earth when God called her home to be with Him.

Suzanne was preceded in death by her parents Harry and Elizabeth (Leach) Bartlett, her husband Joseph Abajay, brothers-in-law George Abajay and Leon Abajay, sisters-in-law Elizabeth (Abajay) Voss, Josephine (Abajay) Anderson, Nancy (Hacker) Bartlett, and Geraldine (Walsh) Barlett.

Suzanne’s surviving family includes her daughter Heather (Abajay) La Follette; her son-in-law Lawrence “James” La-Follette II; her grandchildren Katrina (La-Follette) Herbster (husband, Quentin Herbster), Finola (La-Follette) Stoll (husband, Nathan Stoll), Lawrence La-Follette III (wife, Emily (Haymaker) La Follette), and Maryn La-Follette; her brother Harry “Allen” Bartlett, and nieces Kristin (Bartlett) Francis (husband, Patrick Francis) and Kerri (Bartlett) Crane (husband, Charles Crane).

A memorial service will be held at Cosperville Baptist Church, 8851 N 250 W, Wawaka IN 46794, at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 20, 2022. A luncheon will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Suzanne’s name to Cosperville Baptist Church.

Suzanne generously donated her body to the Anatomical Education Program at Indiana University School of Medicine. This gift will contribute significantly to the advancement of health science education in the state of Indiana. Those, like Suzanne, who decide to donate their bodies to the health sciences have made a significant contribution that benefits the quality of life and care for the living.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to Parkview Hospice for their gentle and loving care for Suzanne in her final days, and special recognition to her nurse Dawn, her nurse aid Jessica, and her social worker Cathy.

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