A celebration of our Sweet Susie's life will be held 1:00pm on Saturday December 22nd 2012 at the Gilroy Senior Center at 7371 Hanna Street corner of Sixth Street and Hanna in Gilroy CA. Donations may be made in her memory to the Humane Society of Santa Clara, Silent Unity, or in the form of a gift card for her son's program Social Vocational Services of Gilroy.

Susie went to be with the Lord on Monday December 3rd, 2012. Her life's journey began on January 6th, and she was the first baby girl born in her home town of Hollister CA in 1943. Her loving parents Raymond and Junita Lerma raised her and her five siblings in Hollister where she attended local schools and graduated from San Benito/Hollister High in 1961. It was that same year on a blind date on March 21, that she met the love of her life and the man she would be married to for 48 years Freddie Ortiz. Her and her "Honey" and "Dear Heart" were married on September 26, 1964 in front of family and friends at Sacred Heart Church, and had a dance filled reception at the Veterans Hall. She then made "the Big move" to Gilroy to begin married life.

A few years later it was with great joy that she and Freddie welcomed their first child a son Joseph followed 16 months later by their baby girl Jennifer. Susie felt blessed to be a Mother and knew that being a wife and mother would be her most important job of her life. Her large extended family was extremely close and she cherished many holidays and gatherings together. She had a passion for life and her God.

As she faced the challenges of having an Autistic child, losing her mother at an early age and health challenges in later years her faith and closeness with God only grew stronger. Her great capacity and ability to love and forgive, and pray and befriend all she met is the rich legacy she leaves behind.

She is survived by her devoted husband Fred, her adored son/"Heaven's Special Child" Joseph, loving daughter Jennifer and four footed Grand dog Precious, and Grand cat Mittens. Her brother Ray Jr. (Josie) Lerma of Salinas CA, brother David (Theresa) Lerma of Newman CA, sister Dolly Lerma of Gilroy and brother "Sonny" /Jess (Marilyn) Lerma of Gilroy. Prudy (Dorris) Ortiz of Gilroy, Tellie Ortega of Gilroy, Felix Ortiz of San Jose, Frank Martinez of Gilroy, Ray (Gloria) Ortiz of EI Monte CA, Louie Ortiz of San Jose and Carmen Colson of San Jose. She was preceded in death by her parents Ray and Junita Lerma and sister Lorraine Murphy.

A treasured friend, Special Auntie, niece, cousin and loving Godmother, and simply known to "Mom" to many she leaves a large extended family of friends and family to enjoy the beauty of the leaves she loved.

In her love for life and all those lives she touched she firmly believed "We truly never say Good bye, but only until we meet again."