Obituary of Susan Jarmain

Obituary Susan Mary Jarmain Singbush Susan Mary Jarmain Singbush (Johnson), 70, died peacefully at home in Port Bruce, Ontario on July 18, 2015 after a long struggle with cancer. Susan was a creative, courageous and determined woman whose passion for life infected those around her. She was born in Detroit Michigan but grew up on the outskirts of London, Ontario. As a child she read voraciously. She had a horse called Sunny. Family road trips to Mexico influenced her life and later art. At age 19 Susan married Kelly Jarmain and children Sarah and Philip were born soon thereafter. In 1983 Susan met her second husband Douglas Singbush while moving a former church steeple onto her country property. They were married in 1987 and Doug's daughters Colleen and Jennifer joined the family. Susan and Doug have had a wonderful partnership and shared many passions together, including travels in the southern US and Europe, restoring a 150 year old farm house, creating extensive gardens, designing and building a beautiful and innovative new house in Port Bruce, and in her final years, memorizing poetry together. Susan was a consummate host and their home became the focal point for many a celebration for the Port Bruce clan and friends and visitors. Ŧo the marriage Doug brought with him his own large Sudbury clan. As an artist Susan (Susan Jarmain) was internationally known for her work in woven silk. In this she was single-minded and the work was life sustaining and life giving. Her arsenal included deep knowledge of materials and techniques and a scholar's interest in textile traditions, especially those of indigenous Mexico and ancient Peru. Her sources of inspiration were natural phenomena. Wonders of nature discovered, then magnified and rewondered so that we could see them. She was a graduate of the National College of Art in Dublin, Ireland. Solo exhibitions included several at Meridian Gallery in San Francisco, the London Regional Art Gallery (now Museum London), and as featured artist at the Knitting and Stitching Show in London, Dublin, and Harrogate in England and Ireland, among others. Susan will be dearly missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her husband Doug Singbush; her children Sarah Jarmain, Philip (Emily) Jarmain, Colleen (Earl) Singbush, Jennifer (Travis) Wilks with grandsons Christopher and Michael; her mother Helen Johnson; her brothers Nick Johnson and Ian Johnson, her cousins Al and Chris Mayhew with sons Merlyn and Alex; and many other friends and family too numerous to list. She is pre-deceased by her father Philip Carter Johnson. "A celebration of Susan Jarmain Singbush's life will be held on Saturday, August 29 at the Aeolian Hall, 795 Dundas Street, London, 1 to 5 pm. Tributes at 2 o'clock. All are welcome." Many thanks to those who cared for her through her illness: Dr. Toth and Jenn, Dr. Donahue and Janice, Respiratory Services, CCAC, Care Partners and VON and especially to "her two Pats" and Laura. Donations to be directed to the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Foundation and/or the London Health Sciences Foundation. Condolences and donations at kebbelfuneral.com.