Susan M. Smoley

Visitation for Susan M. Smoley, 69, of Arlington Heights, will be held Monday, November 18, 2024, from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m., with a short memorial service taking place at 7:00 p.m. at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Highway, Palatine, Illinois, 60067. Susan will lie in state on the November 19, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the Funeral Service at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, 1449 N. Quentin Road, Palatine, Illinois, 60067. A mercy meal will start at 12:30 p.m. at Jameson's Charhouse, 1331 W Dundee Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60004.

An additional Visitation will take place in Michigan on Friday, November 22, 2024, at the Vickers Leslie Funeral home, 109 N. Church St, Leslie, Michigan, 49251, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Interment will follow at the Dormition of the Mother of God Monastery, 3389 Rives Eaton Road, Rives Junction, Michigan, 49277, beginning at 1:30p.m. A mercy meal will follow from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at One North Kitchen and Bar, 2115 Bondsteel Drive, Jackson, Michigan, 49202.

Susan was born March 1, 1955, in Dearborn, Michigan, where she attended Edsel Ford High School. After graduating as salutatorian, she attended Kalamazoo College, studying economics and public policy, achieving Phi Beta Kappa honors. Upon graduating, Susan attended Essex University, UK in 1978 as a Rotary Scholar. She then worked as an economist and project manager for the Army Corps of Engineers for 24 years while also earning an MBA from the University of Chicago in 1989.

Susan was deeply ingrained in the Orthodox Christian community, participating in bible studies, choir, charity organizations, pilgrimages, conferences, especially the Saint Phoebe Center for the Holy Deaconess. Her faith and the community it fostered gave her the strength to live a full life during her courageous four-year battle with cancer.

She met her husband, Peter, while studying at Essex University, UK in 1978, and they were married in 1981 in Detroit, Michigan. For over 43 years, Susan and Peter loved to travel, explore new experiences, and engage in meaningful conversations with friends from all walks of life.

Susan will be remembered for her devoted faith, ambition, and kindness.

Susan passed away on the 12th of November. She was a devoted wife and friend to Peter Delgado and a loving mother to David Delgado (Sarah Ritter). She was cherished by many extended branches of family spanning the globe. She is preceded in death by her father, John, and her mother, Sally.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to Saint Phoebe Center for the Deaconess or the International Orthodox Christian Charities.