Susan Teresa Poli passed away the night of Oct. 30, 2023, surrounded by her family.

Susan was born in Hollister, California, to Frank and Juana Mendez. She left a profound impact on those whose lives she touched as a fearless daughter, loving wife, strong mother, and caring grandmother.

When she was young, her father was proud of how Susan defied expectations to be the girl who wasn't afraid to drive the tractor. Later in life, her successful battle against breast cancer was yet another example of her determination and adamant nature. If you were to ask anybody who knew her, they would tell you that even in her last moments, she was always going to get her way.

In 1963, Susan met Stephen "Steve" Poli at Gavilan College where she always boasted how she instantly knew "that this was the man [she] was going to spend the rest of her life with." And he was. After raising their children in Gilroy, California, the family moved to the Santa Cruz area in 1984. The Poli family quickly established roots and made friends with many local families. Susan stood as a matriarchal figure among the families in the Soquel community, always offering her cooking and amazing desserts to anyone who would abide by her rule to "try it at least once." This was later dubbed as "Grandma's Rule."

To her husband, children, grandchildren, and friends, Susan was an unstoppable force. Her family stands as a testament to her strength and unwavering support while her husband served as a firefighter in the San Jose Fire Department. This carried through to other facets of her life, from running her personal business as an artisan for nearly 35 years to the many nights she spent perfecting her game at the Gilroy Bowl alongside her many friends.

Susan is preceded in death by her father and mother. She is survived by her husband, Stephen Poli; three children, James, Gina, and Jennifer; and three grandchildren, Stephen, Michael, and Julian. Susan also leaves behind her beloved dog Sydnee Rose.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Susan Poli's name to The Pregnant Mare Rescue, P.O. Box 962, Aptos CA 95001 — this organization was close to her heart. Per Susan's request, no memorial service will be held.