Susan Napier

Susan Kay (Quigg) Napier died at home April 29, 2025, just six weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She lived 83 wonderful years and was grateful to the end.

Susan was born March 2, 1942 to Robert F. and Ellen G. (Branberg) Quigg in Moline, Illinois.

She studied biology at Maryville College and completed her post-graduate education in Physical Therapy at Duke University in 1965, immediately after which she married Bill Napier, whom she met at Maryville. They had two children and settled in Upper Arlington (Columbus), Ohio.

She found joy in her work and coworkers in nursing homes and at Mount Carmel Medical Center. But volunteering with organizations like the Dahlberg Learning Center and Tandana Foundation made her heart sing.

She also got to see a staggering number of interesting places on adventures with Bill. Highlights included trips to see the home of her Japanese sister, a tour of Scandinavia, trips to Ecuador and Mali with Tandana, adventures in Russia and Turkey with close friends, and a Disney visit with the four grandchildren.

In early 2021, Bill was diagnosed with ALS. She was a devoted caretaker, and served him faithfully and well until his death in 2022, one month before what would have been their 57th anniversary.

She deeply loved trips to New England, antique furniture, daffodils, miniatures, finding sea glass, anything the grandkids ever did, receiving cards, thinking about her kids and god-daughter, Christmas, unsweetened iced tea with lemon, her cottage on Chesapeake Bay’s Tilghman Island, Graeter’s ice cream–particularly the chocolate sodas–and good times with her family and many beloved friends. She maintained many deep friendships that endured for decades, and right up to her passing was surrounded by an extraordinary network of women– knitters, mahjong competitors, and devoted friends.

Left to remember her fondly and follow her example are her brother Robert (Linda); her children, Ellen Bethany (Robert) and Brian (Kerry); grandchildren Max Napier, Yana Walker, Theodore Chaney, and Fletcher Chaney; adopted sister Reiko Wada, and dear cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

A memorial service will be held May 23, 2005 at 2:00pm at First Community Church, 1320 Cambridge Blvd, Columbus, OH 43212.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Tandana Foundation to honor Susan to support the construction of a new health center in Mali.