Suzanne Ruth Conterno

Mar 24, 1953 - Dec 13, 2014

Suzanne Ruth Conterno died in Carson City, Nevada on December 13 from complications of Prader-Willi syndrome, for which she dealt with grace and strength throughout her entire life. Suzanne (or Sue as she preferred) was born on March 24, 1953 in Hawthorne, Nevada to parents, Delbert Conterno and Lois Moore Conterno. At the time of her death, Sue was one of the longest living people with Prader-Willi syndrome known in the United States. Sue was a genuine and wonderful person. Although her life was filled with challenges, she always had words of encouragement and love for others. She spent her time getting to know those who came in and out of her world and never forgot a name or a person’s story. She made friends everywhere she went and was quick to encourage those with ‘weak hugs’ to ‘go practice’ and then come back ‘when they had it right.’ It was not uncommon to see her in conversation with children, who never seemed uncomfortable with her speech difficulties or presentation. Her parents and the following siblings preceded Sue in death: Lois McConnaughey and Jack, Bob, and Don Moore. Sue is survived by her sister, Dolores Pummill of Dayton, Nevada; her brother, Jim (Shirley) Moore of Salem, Oregon; and numerous nieces and nephews. She also leaves many friends at Mountain View Health and Rehabilitation Center in Carson City, Nevada, and elsewhere. There is a hole in all of our lives with this loss. Sue once said, “When I come back the next time, I want to come back normal.” In her own way, Sue was the ‘normal’ we should all strive to be. Big hug, Sue! We will miss you! Services for Sue will be held at 10:00 AM, Sunday, December 21, 2014, at Gunter’s Funeral Home in Hawthorne, Nevada. Interment will be in the Hawthorne, Nevada Cemetery.