Susan Lee Clarke, née Henniger, of Ottawa, ON, was surrounded by her loving family when she died peacefully on March 5, 2026
Born and raised in Smiths Falls, ON, to Perry and Ella Henniger, Susan was a June baby who shared the warmth of an early summer day with everyone she met.
Susan was always giving to her friends and family, offering a delicious meal, a warm hug, and sound advice. Her home was always available to anyone needing a loving place to lay their head for a spell.
Bright, full of laughter, and thoughtful conversation, Susan was a graduate of Queen’s University. In addition to being a full-time mom, she also spent time as an elementary school teacher, and a volunteer for Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). Her children remember her as the woman who gave them the most solid and loving home any child could ever ask for.
Susan met the love of her, Alen Clarke, at the age of 13, while climbing a neighbour’s tree. At 25 the two married, and set out on a life of adventure. Living across Canada, Germany, India, Israel and Egypt, Sue was a master of creating a warm home and community anywhere she landed. Her sense of adventure never failed, and there was nobody more fun to travel with.
Her accomplishments were of the soft, gentle and beautiful kind. From cooking, to knitting, to needlepoint, to sewing, Susan was always creating and sharing beautiful things. She had a distinct passion for building beauty into her life and the lives of those around her.
When it came to friends and family, she was steadfast, always there, sharing her quiet strength, no matter the task. All this, combined with her ready humour and unwavering kindness, made her the best of role models to her two grandchildren, as well as her many (grand) nieces and nephews, and wide network of friends and family that she loved so dearly.
Susan is survived by Alen, her husband of more than 60 years, her two brother’s Jim Henniger (Isabel, née Pilkington) and Ross Henniger (Gay, née Carroll), her son Perry (Kim, née Carnesale), and Daughter Sarah (Terry Goulah). And of course, her two grandchildren who she loved more dearly than anything, Alexandra Clarke and Jaret Goulah.
There is no place on earth that Susan loved more deeply than her cottage at Chaffeys. The happiest of memories were shared there, where everything she loved came together. Friends, family, laughter, “The Lake”, dinner parties, and lots of gin. She will always be remembered but most especially, she will be remembered there. She will be dearly missed.
A memorial will be held in Susan’s honour, this summer at Chaffey’s. Details will follow.