Obituary: Suzanne "Suzi" Ellen Monahan

Suzanne “Suzi” Ellen Monahan, 75, of Cloquet died at home peacefully in her sleep Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. She was born Feb. 9, 1947, in Minneapolis to Anthony and Margaret “Peggy” (Iverson) Maciewski. Suzi graduated from AlBrook High School and attended Duluth Vocational Technical College, where she studied nursing. She then worked at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth. After her nursing career, she went on to do secretarial work in different fields. She was a proud member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. In her retirement years she worked hard and earned her associate degree at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet. Suzi worked for many years as a bartender at the Chinese Lantern and Brass Phoenix in Duluth, where she was active with the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s annual Ugly Bartender Contest fundraiser. She even competed and won; the grand prize was a trip to Hawaii!

In her early years Suzi loved to travel, and would bring her girls poster souvenirs of the places she went. She loved to host parties, which were famous for her great food and lots of fun, for friends and family. Suzi was famous for her peanut butter bars and annual gifts of homemade Christmas bread care packages. Suzi had a beautiful voice and loved to sing, and even sang backup at a gig for her brother’s band. She also loved to sew, at first out of necessity, making her own clothes, later for fun, making dresses and Halloween costumes for her children, and then keepsake quilts for her grandkids, which they still have 30 years later. This was one of many skills Suzi handed down to her daughters.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Anthony Maciewski and Margaret “Peggy” Couture; husband, James Manolis; brother Mark Maciewski; and sisters Marilyn Smith, Cynthia Plachecki and Elizabeth Connors. Suzi is survived by her daughters, Jennifer (Ken) Youngs, Cissy (Earl) Otis and Jaclyn (Todd) Furtman; brothers Bryan Jon (Shelly) Maciewski, William Maciewski and David (Tammy) Couture Jr .; sisters Patricia Maciewski and Gail (James) Ford; stepdad, David Couture Sr .; 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and her puppy, Buddy.

Celebration of Life: 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29 in the Fond du Lac Cultural Center, 1711 Big Lake Road, Cloquet. A luncheon and reception will follow in the Cultural Center. Burial will be in Holy Family Cemetery, Cloquet. To sign the guestbook and leave an online tribute, see http://www.atkinsnorthlandfuneralhome.com.

Pine Knot News September 2, 2022