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Suzanne Ellis At 50 a keepsake from Memoir for Me memoirforme com

This book is for the lady who feeds me plays with me and lets me sleep in her bed even when I take up all of her foot space Thank you for loving every part of me even all my barking and my smelly breath I could never forget how much time we spent together and how much you took care of me when you first adopted me I ll never stop being there to cuddle and cheer you up when I know you need it I ll always be your little Buddy P S Thanks again for all the chicken and hamburger you make me You get me With love and tail wags Buddy

Here s to strong women may we know them may we be them may we raise them

Erin Audrey Julia and Suzanne Suzanne Egan Ellis is an international tax law expert a music junkie a swimmer a bookworm a surfer and a converted dog lover She is also the best mom sister and friend someone could ask for She has taught many lessons and is many things to those who love her Here are a few She is selfless Suzanne generously gives of her time and self Her daughters Audrey 20 Erin 18 and Julia 15 have perhaps benefitted most from Suzanne s selflessness when she put her law career on hold to focus on her job as mom full time She really gave up her entire existence to give me and my sisters happiness said Audrey She never takes her children for granted said Julia She never forgets to tell us how much she loves us and that we re important Suzanne s middle daughter Erin looks up to her mom She does everything for us even when it s way too much But thankfully mom s attention is not overbearing We have plenty of independence said Erin But if we need her she s there in a second 5

For the delivery of all the forgotten lunches all the rides to and from swim practice music lessons or debate and for the good company during Food Network binges and late night snacks the girls know they are all lucky to have Suzanne as a mom Sometimes we stay up late and eat things said Erin I m into barbecue chips or baked goods and she s more of an ice cream girl One of her best friends from college Tracey Meares enjoys seeing Suzanne as a parent She s a great mom She s fierce and pursues what is best for her kids This same spirit has made Suzanne a solid friend through good times and bad Suzanne is a very generous loving and loyal friend She always has your back said Tracey That s when you know who your friends are who you can tell things to She was one of the people who got me through Her sister Barb Egan said Suzanne also makes an amazing sibling I admire her tenacity sincerity kindness and remarkable empathy towards other people said Barb She tolerates me and all my idiosyncrasies She s a strong sister in so many ways With Erin

Sue Flynn Stephanie Faley Tracey Meares and Suzanne Hard work will get you places Suzanne grew up in Norridge Illinois a northwestern suburb just outside of Chicago When she was growing up she didn t have much said daughter Erin Suzanne experienced loss too early at the age of 16 with the death of her father But through it all Suzanne persevered She went away to college and met friends that would remain with her through her whole life Tracey Meares pledged Kappa Alpha Theta the same year as Suzanne at the University of Illinois We lived in this thing called the Six Pack and pledged the same sorority said Tracey We both had this hard knock connection joining this sorority full of rich girls from the northern suburbs that wasn t our background We hung out and talked sharing dreams and growing up together 7

The two have remained friends long past sorority rush and graduation together with Sue Farley Flynn and Stephanie Smidge Hale Faley The four girls get together annually most recently to celebrate 50th birthday milestones Watching their mom handle life s twists and turns has left a lasting impression on her 3 daughters Audrey learned a thing or two about hard work from her mom She works so hard Her real motivation has been so her kids could have things she didn t have when she was younger said Audrey She has taught me that hard work can get you really far even when you don t feel you have the skills hard work will show that you probably do have the skills Julia agrees She always told me that I can do anything that I set my mind to because her dad taught her that Erin adds that even though hard work is important being perfect is not She never pressures us to be more than we already are and that there s more than one way to get anywhere Her life taught me a lot about that what hard work can do 8 With Erin and Audrey With Julia

Erin Suzanne Buddy and Julia She would be lost without Buddy Daughter Erin takes credit for the addition of Buddy to their lives My mom didn t want a dog but got one for me because I wanted one like children have never wanted an animal But the love for this furry friend is shared We all love him said Erin When my mom is out of town I ll send pictures of him and she does the same for me I wish you could interview Buddy for this book Turns out he wrote the dedication Sister Julia remembers when the family first debated over getting a pup My mom had nightmares about this dog before we got it But now Buddy is the light of our lives and a member of the family said Julia We can t imagine life without him 9

Take time for books fun and friends Suzanne wanted her daughters to master two skills above all else reading and swimming All three girls grew up very comfortable within a local library or pool and were quick to bring these shared talents up when reflecting on their upbringing with their mom We talk books a lot said Audrey She loves them as much as I do Erin has fond memories of her mom reading to her and accredits much of her success now as a college freshman at Northwestern University to that early foundation I remember many readings of There s a Hippo in My Bathtub and The Seven Silly Eaters Suzanne also taught all her girls how to swim Suzanne s own love for the water was instilled when she was young and something she shared with her siblings Growing up we swam endlessly at the Norridge Pool said her sister Barb We had lessons in the morning swam all day then we d go back for night swimming Music is another shared love Growing up Suzanne played piano and has raised her daughters to all play some musical instrument Audrey played the violin and Erin and Julia both played piano for many years 10 Suzanne and her sister Barb Young Suzanne

With Erin In addition to formal music lessons the girls have fun memories just jamming out to music together with their mom at home or in the car Thankfully Suzanne has good taste in music to share with her daughters preferring rock and roll over anything mellow Now her girls are teaching her a thing or two about pop music I grew up listening to Matchbox 20 or Goo Goo Dolls Now we share music said Audrey We like to dance in the car to Train or Sia said Julia With her closest friends Suzanne loves getting together over a good meal and conversation Tracey who now lives in New Haven Connecticut looks forward to these gatherings to check back in with her longtime friend We ll go out to dinner and talk for hours Tracey appreciates that she can pick up right where she and Suzanne left off and that phone calls however sporadic help them stay connected in between visits Even if you haven t spoken in months you know that when the person picks up the phone you don t have to feel guilty about the gap said Tracey You know that person will be happy to hear from you 11

Suzanne is loved Her sister Barb who now lives in Redwood City California comments on a lifetime of love Suze and I shared the same room growing up We were really close We d hold hands as well fell asleep Despite the geographic distance between them they remain as close as sisters can be If either one of us needs each other we re there for one another I come home as often as I can 1 to 2 times a year but it s never enough So they take to the phone A week doesn t go by that we aren t talking and texting on the phone together She s a remarkable person Everyday I try to send her wishes to find peace and joy and that I have and will always be there for her and love her When Tracey reflects on what she loves most about Suzanne her laugh comes to mind It s sharp and crackles brightly Julie Mary holding Suzanne Joan and Barb the Egan sisters 12

Tracey Meares Sue Flynn and Suzanne When thinking about their friendship she recalls a strange coincidence We wore the same wedding dress We point to that as an indication that we think alike said Tracey We come from very different places but have something very simpatico happening there Suzanne s daughters all feel nothing but love for the mom who has given them the world We ve always been close said Erin My mom used to tell me that I slept in a car seat in her bed I think we ve always had a special bond But Erin is quick to add that her mom has that bond with all of her daughters When I was really little I never wanted to go to school because I didn t want to be away from her said Julia Julia is glad to have the chance to voice her appreciation Even though I might not say it I m really lucky to have her as a mom 13

As the oldest Audrey has a unique perspective My parents may not know what they are doing parenting an adult I mean that in a good way it s just the reality and comes with the territory of being the oldest Like the other girls Audrey has had many successes in life including acceptance into the very competitive Wellesley College in Massachusetts I wouldn t have made it here without her Whenever something good happens to me it s hers too There s no disentangling that Erin a freshman at Northwestern also credits her mom I couldn t have done it without her Perhaps one of the greatest gifts Suzanne has given her daughters is simply being a good role model as a woman and mother I want her to know that she s the kind of mom that all mom s want to be that I want to be said Erin If I end up half the mom that she s been to me I ll be happy Suzanne Erin Audrey and Julia

We asked some of Suzanne s closest friends to share why they value her as a friend and some precious memories Where do I start Suzanne and I have known each other most of our lives as we met in Kindergarten in 1971 So many memories come to mind as we have been through it all together first communion filing for Mrs Mueller in 5th grade Word Challenge Cheerleading Poms in 8th grade 1st concert at Poplar Creek Men at Work Marlin synchronized swimming Florida vacations Lake Geneva U of I visits then going there together I learned how to drink tea with milk from her Grandma Curtain and she discovered that calamari in pasta was yummy from my mom who was always forcing food on her But most of all I remember always being there for each other through the ups and downs of life We share a bond like sisters a love and friendship like no other Love you Suz Wishing you another 50 great years as I always will be here for you Love Lisa 15

Dear Suzanne We ve had so so many great times and even more belly laughs together over the years We both remember of course the first time we met and instantly felt a friendship that will last forever I m so lucky to know you and have you as my dear dear friend This picture of course reminds me of when I turned 50 and you were the first one to say YES to whatever I wanted to do to celebrate I admire so much about you Your strength your faith your intelligence your beauty your kindness and generosity your ability to clear through the clutter and see what s important in life I could go on and on Thank you for being you we are all better off knowing you and blessed having you as a friend Love you Stacey 16

Top 10 Reasons Why I m Lucky to Have Suzanne as my Friend 1 She is the smartest person in the room 2 She has the best laugh it s contagious 3 She is the most patient and calm person I know I wish I could be more like that 4 She has an amazing capacity to laugh at herself 5 I am in awe of her dedication to fitness She get s up at 5 00am to workout Who does that 6 She laughs at all my jokes and makes me feel like I m really funny 7 She accepts the good with the bad in people 8 She is the greatest Mom who always puts her children first 9 She finds something special about each of her friends and continually reminds them how special they are 10 She is the most devoted person in the world and anyone who is lucky enough to have Suzanne as a friend is truly blessed Wendy 17

How lucky am I that I met a beautiful mom inside and out at Balzer Park sixteen years ago with our four little girls We now have our six daughters to thank since they pulled us together time and time again over the years Third daughters born weeks apart you coaching soccer with Dennis CCD carpooling for Audrey and Alex countless play dates and sleepovers LSC Swim team Julia and Ella at Tamarak early morning orchestra practice for Audrey and Alex shared My Gym birthday party for Julia and Ella WAY too much dance carpooling our Mom organized preschool for Julia and Ella travel soccer with Erin and Hannah first communions and confirmations shared racecar birthday party for Audrey and Alex lots of Harry Potter and Wizards Julia and Ella s group at Half Day talent shows Halloween nights at the Adlers sixth grade dance lessons Lifetime yoga and coffees afterwards bar and bat mitzvahs Sonoma trip with sooo many laughs eighth grade dance committee family weekends at the lake many long phone conversations on solving world problems eighth grade pictures and parents parties at my house plenty of 40s and 50s birthday parties Nashville for Stacey s birthday I am so thankful our kids brought us together so many years ago and I am so thankful for your incredible friendship ever since I have loved every minute we have spent together and I know that we have many more memories to come I love you Suzanne Kerry 18

Dear Suzanne I never could of guessed that meeting you at North Park when our girls were so little would of enriched my life so much You have been so special to me as a friend child raising consultant birthday party hostess and doctor Our lives have changed so much since we first met but our friendship is always there You are such an amazing woman one that s admired by all For you are truly the whole package so smart so kind so loving so warm super fun and super witty I could go on but I think you have the idea We ve shared so many special times in the past and I m looking forward to sharing many more memories with you throughout the next 50 years HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY Love Cindy 19