Susan S. Stowe

Susan S. Stowe, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 22, 2025, at her home in Phoenix, Arizona. Her devoted husband, Gary, was near her side.

Born on January 25, 1943, in Cranston, Rhode Island, Susan was the daughter of Donald and Helen (Clayton) Ormerod. After graduating from high school in Cranston, she attended nursing school in Providence and went on to practice as a geriatric nurse, where her compassion and care touched countless lives.

Susan married Allen Sabbag, and together they raised two children, Elizabeth Helen Sabbag and Peter Allen Sabbag. After their divorce, she pursued her growing intellectual curiosity, earning a master’s degree in anthropology from Iowa State University. A few years later, she moved to Phoenix, where she purchased and operated a travel agency on North 7th Street until the late 1980s.

In 1988, a longtime friend, Gary Stowe, re-entered Susan’s life. For more than five years the two remained close, when they finally realized they had found their life partner. They were married that December in Sedona, Arizona. The couple built a beautiful life together, first in the Encanto Historic Neighborhood and later at The Pointe Community on north 16th street in Phoenix. Their homes were always full of laughter, love, and an ever-changing collection of rescued dogs, cats, fish, rabbits, birds, and even a tarantula named ‘’Fluffy’’

A lifelong lover of the arts and nature, Susan found great joy in watercolor painting. She spent many peaceful hours in her home studios, creating portraits of the people she met and the pets they cherished. Her paintings reflected her warmth, curiosity, and empathy. Each brushstroke was a quiet celebration of the lives she encountered.

Those who knew Susan will remember her for her radiant smile, gentle humor, and deep kindness. She had an extraordinary ability to connect with others, to make them feel seen, and to nurture both people and the world around her.

Susan is survived by her loving husband, Gary; her children, Beth and Peter; her beloved sister, Nancy MacKenzie; and her grandchildren, Chloe and Cate Browning.

A Celebration of Life for family and friends will be planned at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Susan’s honor at your local animal rescue.

Susan’s gracious soul will be held close to the many she touched through her time on this earth. She is deeply loved and profoundly missed.