Obituary of Susan Herrick Sanchez

SUSAN HERRICK SANCHEZ died peacefully on Father’s Day, June 21, 2015. Sue was surrounded by her loving family in her last days after a heroic battle with multiple cancers. Born Susan Esther Herrick on July 28, 1959 in Ellsworth, Maine, Susan was the third of three children to Albert and Hildred (Jordan) Herrick. She studied Business Administration at the University of Maine. In 1996, Sue met the love of her life, Jim Sanchez, on an AOL chat site. After months and months of over-the-top phone bills, Jim sent her a round-trip ticket to L.A. where they finally met for the first time. Jim and Sue fell in love immediately and within days of meeting, Jim proposed and Susan accepted. They were married in California and two years later had their first and only daughter, Jordin, on December 17, 1997. It was then that Jim and Sue decided to move back to Maine to raise their daughter. They bought land in Lincolnville where they had their home built and started a life as a family. Sue loved being a mother. She was extremely happy and always had a quick wit and a beautiful smile to accompany her gorgeous red hair. Susan was compassionate, goofy, caring, funny, energetic and a real problem solver. Sue’s job at Camden National Bank was a perfect fit. She worked as a mortgage loan officer who loved helping clients resolve mortgage problems and save their homes. Susan loved her job immensely, and her clients often returned thanking her for being so helpful. Even when diagnosed with cancer, Sue continued her work at the bank in between her many ongoing treatments. Susan kept an amazing and upbeat positive attitude without missing a beat. She gave her daughter, Jordin, a sweet sixteen party complete with a beautiful tiara, fancy dress and hip music in spite of a major snowstorm and her ill health. Her husband, Jim, who had lost his previous wife to breast cancer, helped Susan through her battle and took care of her throughout their journey together. He fondly called her “Snickles”, and the couple drew strength from one another. In July of 2012, while building their new home in Lincolnville, Susan was diagnosed with breast cancer. In 2013, four months after completing chemo and radiation therapy, it was discovered that Susan had bladder cancer. Eight months after her last chemotherapy session for bladder cancer in 2014, a bone biopsy revealed that Susan had bone cancer throughout her skeletal system. In February of 2015, a CT scan revealed that the cancer had spread to her liver, lungs, adrenal glands and stomach lymph nodes. In March, Susan bravely had her right and left hip joints replaced in order to help her become more mobile for the upcoming regime of treatments. In May her lungs began to deteriorate making it hard for her to breathe and air tanks were little help. Susan also contracted a MRSA staph infection in her lungs. sS Jim and Jordin were there for Susan during good times and bad as she fought for her life, and they are trying each and every day to fill the void left behind by Susan. Her nurturing presence is missed tremendously by both of them. Susan’s bravery and high spirits throughout her fight as well as Jim and Jordan’s unrelenting support are gold medal worthy. She is survived by her husband Jim Sanchez, her daughter Jordin Sanchez, her brother David Herrick. Susan was preceded in death by her parents and a sister Julie Herrick. A memorial service will be held July 5th at 3 p.m. at Little River Baptist Church, 259 Northport Avenue, Belfast. A reception and celebration of life will follow. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that memorials be sent to offset the overwhelming medical bills, hospital costs and final expenses to gofundme.com/susansanchezfund or to Jim Sanchez, 7 Beechwood Lane, Lincolnville, ME 04849. Arrangements are under the care of Riposta Funeral Home, 182 Waldo Avenue, Belfast.