Obituary of Susan M. Fisher

Susan M. Fisher, age 69, of Monroe passed away peacefully on Friday, July 31, 2015 after a valiant battle with cancer. Susan was born July 1, 1946 in Brooklyn, NY to Julia A. McGovern and Ralph DeVito. She graduated from Saint Dominic High School in Oyster Bay, New York in 1963. She went on to earn a BS degree from Villa Maria College in Erie, PA, a Master's Degree from Edinboro University in Edinboro, PA, EdD Doctorate in Nursing Education from Teachers College Columbia University in New York Education and a Post Certified Master's Degree in Oncology Symptom Management from Yale University in New Haven, CT. Susan spent 35 of her 45 years in Nursing as a Certified Advance Practice Nurse in Oncology, 10 of those years at Bridgeport Hospital and the last 25 years at Saint Raphael Hospital in New Haven. Susan was recognized for her work by winning the prestigious Nightengale Award and the Safe Passage Award for end of life care. Susan was a very active person, always looking for projects to do and things to enrich her and her families' lives. She loved to entertain her friends with specially cooked Susan meals and going out to dinner. She also did yoga, Pilates, zoomba and loved to play golf, where she made many new friends. She is predeceased by her mother and father, Julia A. DeVito and Ralph J. DeVito from Carle Place, NY and her younger sister, Barbara Laughlin from New York City, NY and is survived by her brother James DeVito from Carle Place, NY and Robert and his wife Diana from New York City, her beloved husband of 45 years Brian from Monroe and her sons, Brett and his wife Susan and grandson JP from Hoboken, NJ, her son Jason and his wife Christine and her grandsons, William and Benjamin from Cincinnati, OH. Susan was a role model and educator to many of the nurses of St. Raphael Hospital and throughout the state of Connecticut. It is difficult to imagine how many nurses she trained and mentored and how many patients' lives that were impacted in a positive way. Susan sends a special thanks to the staff at the Smilow Fairfield Office and the Branford Hospice facility for all their care, support and laughs. Friends and relatives may greet the family on Saturday, August 8 2015 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull. Funeral Services will be held on Sunday, August 9, at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home and interment will follow in B'nai Israel Cemetery, Monroe. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to her favorite charity, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.