Susan Virginia Gitch

Grateful for her opportunities to be a caregiver and bringer of joy to people of all ages, Susan Virginia Gitch, 85, of Poulsbo, WA, died at home on June 27, 2024.

Sue was born in West Seattle on April 21, 1939 to Robert and Helen (Lundberg) Frykholm. Joined by older brother, Bob, and younger brother, Steve, the family moved to Hackensack, New Jersey, and later to Mission, Kansas. Graduating from Shawnee Mission High School in 1957, she attended Concordia College-Seward (Nebraska) for a year before transferring to Valparaiso University (Indiana), where she majored in Youth Leadership. In 1961, she moved to Silver Springs, Maryland to begin her life of service to the church as the Director of Youth and Christian Education at The Lutheran Church of St. Andrew.

Sue soon caught the eye of David Gitch, a fellow Valparaiso grad and hospital administration graduate student in Washington, D.C. Within months, Sue said yes to Dave's proposal by the second pillar from the right at the Lincoln Memorial and they were married on August 24, 1963. They set off for Columbus, Ohio, then Indianapolis, Indiana, where their first child, Mark, was born. In 1968, they moved to St. Paul, Minnesota where, in time, they added Brad and Kate to the family. As their children grew, Sue felt called to return to ministry. In 1979, she began six impactful years as the Director of Children's Education and leader of the Christian Kids choir at Messiah Lutheran Church. Of the many wonderful friendships formed over Sue and Dave's seventeen years at Messiah, Sue's connection with office-mate Esther Dant blossomed into a lifelong relationship of particularly deep meaning.

In the fall of 1985, after prayerful deliberation, Sue and Dave moved the family to Redmond, Washington, bringing Sue back to her childhood roots. She continued her life of service at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, where she shifted her focus from children's ministry to adult ministry, editing the church newsletter, coordinating volunteer programming, and working as a Stephen minister. Inspired by time spent with her own aging parents, she also pursued studies in geriatric care.

In 1991, Sue and Dave moved to Poulsbo, Washington, on the shore of Liberty Bay, remodeling the home built by her parents and becoming the fourth generation of Frykholms to live on Scandia Point. Their new church home, Silverdale Lutheran, presented Sue with the opportunity to create a Care Team Ministry, which she led for many years. In the community, she served on the Martha and Mary Health Services Board as both a member and chair, volunteered with Hospice of Kitsap County, and enjoyed the company of those in the Bremerton Garden Club and Silverdale Lutheran Book Club. The years in Scandia gave Sue the opportunity to cultivate her love of gardening and books, fall in love with black labs Holly and Ruby, enjoy world travel with Dave, and treasure her time as Grandma.

Sue had an uncanny ability to see and accept people as they were, to listen deeply to their stories, and ensure that they felt valued. She walked humbly with God and those around her, guided by deeply held principles of justice, mercy, and dignity. Her laugh, which was heard often, was something special - infectious and filled with joy. While Alzheimer's was an ever-increasing presence in the last six years of her life, Sue's core traits of caring, love, joy, and faith remained defining characteristics to the end. We will miss these things and more about Sue. Her baptismal journey is complete and we celebrate her new life in Heaven.

Sue was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Helen; and her brother, Bob. Treasuring her memory are her husband, Dave; brother, Steve; son Mark and his wife, Terra Widdifield, son Brad and his wife, Emily Gitch, and daughter Kate and her partner, Kurt Giessel; grandchildren Maya, Robin, Peter, Jack, and Carly; and many heartfelt friends and relatives.

The family is thankful for the companionship and support offered by family, friends, neighbors, and professional caregivers, particularly in Sue's last years.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 9, 2024 at 1pm at Silverdale Lutheran Church, 11701 Ridgepoint Drive NW, Silverdale, WA 98383. The service will be livestreamed and archived at www.silverdalelutheran.org. A private inurnment service will be held at Mountain View Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be directed to Silverdale Lutheran Church and/or Martha & Mary.

Arrangements entrusted to The Stone Chapel Poulsbo Mortuary.