Susan L. Wardynski, 04/09/1959 – 12/06/2015
Susan ended her three year fight against cancer at home Sunday, surrounded by family, at 56 years old.
Susan was born in Chicago, Illinois on 9 April 1959. She was the third child of six children, and only daughter, born to Inajean Louise and Michael Lawrence Chamberlain.
Susan met her future husband, Casey, at Buffalo Grove High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois but did not start dating until he invited her out to The United States Military Academy for a formal dance. Sue fell in love with the Academy’s traditions, history, and her future husband. In his smartest move to date, Casey made his intentions known and the two began a long distance courtship. Sue and Casey married in January of 1981 and Sue joined her new husband at his first military assignment in Germany after graduating Magna Cum Laude from Illinois Wesleyan University.
Growing up bright, kind, and driven, Sue could have been anything she wanted to be, so she chose to be a mother. Sue and Casey’s first child, Casey Jr., was born in May 1985 in Huntsville, Alabama and her true calling of motherhood and supportive military wife was affirmed. Military changes of station took her small family to Sierra Army Depot, California. Casey was sent to Korea and Sue moved closer to family in Illinois to welcome their second child, Jennifer. Upon Casey’s return, the family moved to Boston, Massachusetts where Sue supported Casey’s master degree studies at Harvard University. Afterward, Sue got her dream assignment as the family was stationed at West Point, NY and the family’s lifelong affinity for the community of West Point was established. Their third child, Christian, was born in 1990 in Cold Spring, NY.
Several more moves took the family across the country, but once again the family returned to West Point for a three year assignment in 1993. Casey taught Economics to the cadets while Sue built friendships she would enjoy the rest of her life. The family traveled across the country for Casey to get his PhD before returning to West Point where they would remain for many years. It was here that Sue began her battle with breast cancer in 2003. She fought valiantly and went into remission with the support of friends and family.
The time at West Point surrounded by time-honored traditions had a profound effect on Sue’s children. Casey enlisted in the United States Coast Guard following high school in 2003, while Jennifer and Christian both joined the United States Army after graduating from the United States Military Academy in 2009 and 2014 respectively. Sue took immense pride in her military family. Sue was able to welcome another daughter into the family with Casey Jr.’s marriage to Katherine Fisher in 2008.
Casey Sr. retired from the Army in 2010. Sue and Casey’s dedication to service brought them back to Huntsville, Alabama where Casey became the Superintendent of Huntsville City Schools. Rather than enjoy her well-earned respite, Sue’s passion for service led her to attend nursing school at the University of Alabama-Huntsville, more than thirty years after graduating college. While in school, Sue was re-diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. Despite this devastating blow, and while receiving chemotherapy treatments, Sue graduated first in her class from UAH School of Nursing in 2014.
2015 was a big year for the Wardynski family. Sue began her nursing career and in April shared in the birth of her first grandson, Jack Anthony. Later in the year, another daughter was welcomed with Christian’s marriage to Jacquelyn DiLorenzo, which took place at West Point on November 1.
Shortly after the wedding, Sue’s health began rapidly declining and she was able to reach out to loved ones. With incredible support that only Sue could inspire from family, friends, and the Huntsville community, the Lord welcomed her into His arms on 6 December 2015 at 11:05 pm.
Survivors include her husband, Colonel (Ret.) E. Casey Wardynski; children, Chief Petty Officer Casey Wardynski (Katherine), Captain (USA) Jennifer Wardynski, and 1st Lieutenant (USA) Christian L. Wardynski (Jacquelyn); Grandson, Jack Anthony Wardynski; mother, Inajean L. Chamberlain; brothers, Michael Chamberlain, Jeffrey Chamberlain, Mark Chamberlain and John Chamberlain; “woman’s best friend”, Windsor Wardynski NSDTR; and numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, and many friends.
