Suzanne Carol Ragnone Studgeon Pitzer's Obituary
Suzanne Carol Ragnone Strudgeon Pitzer was born in Portland Oregon and passed in Milwaukie Oregon at the age of 85. She was living at Golden Age Memory Care Center located on Oatfield Road in Milwaukie Oregon. Suzanne lived and grew up in SE Portland near the Eastmoreland area. She attended and graduated from Cleveland High School. During her lifetime she lived in Southeast Portland, Happy Valley, Beaverton, and West Linn Oregon. Survived by David Carl Pitzer (husband). Suzanne had two children, Susan Perkins Pope, and John Strudgeon. Sister, Patsy Wustrack, Joseph Ragnone (father), and Marian Stella Franzak (mother). Suzanne also had two grandchildren Bobby Perkins (deceased) and James David Perkins (nicknamed J.D.) A very special part of her life was spent with a dear cousin, Karen Tosi and her husband Robert McCullough as well as spending time with several caring friends that were like family to her, Jeanette Urich, Veronica Buurman, and Richard Sogn. Veronica Buurman our next door neighbor visited Suzanne every other week in memory care with Suzanne singing 50s and 60s rock and roll, and ballads. This was delightful for all the residents and staff at Golden Age Memory Care in Milwaukie! Veronica and Ed are our faithful friends and neighbors for the last 30 years!
A graveside service will be held at Gesthemani Cemetery 11666 SE Stevens Rd, Happy Valley Oregon 97086 on January 9, 2026, 10:30AM. (503-659-1350). We will also celebrate her life at the West Linn Adult Community Center 1180 Rosemont RD West Linn Oregon 97068. Watch for a date and time later! Suzanne sold real estate properties, helped her husband Jack in their tavern, and later worked doing desk top publishing at MNI, making auto dealership manuals for Mike Nichols. She also was cooking me delicious Italian food and taking care of her Mother Marian Stella Franzak.
Suzanne loved traveling around Oregon and keeping the hummingbird feeders full. We took a cruise to Mexico and spent many months in Lake Havasu Arizona after I retired. We had a 21-foot motor home and traveled all over Washington, Oregon, Northern California and Idaho.
She was a frequent visitor to the West Linn Adult Community Center where I have volunteered for many years. Her warm caring smile was always given to them, and she felt like they were part of her family. She loved KD Lang, Aretha Franklin, and James Brown. Two songs that would get her jivin' are These Boots are Made for Walking and RESPECT by Aretha. She loved Elvis Presley and Tom Jones! These boots are made for walking would always bring out her pointing a finger at me!
Suzanne was a private person. Not a social butterfly. She was not a joiner of groups, including churches. She had her own private beliefs which tended to be on the liberal side of things and was a deeply spiritual person. She loved animals sometimes, more than people. Her immediate family was very important to her, and she went all out trying to cook for them and invite them to her home for holiday events. There was a time in her life when she loved true crime mysteries and media events such as OJ Simpson trial and Jon Benet's death. Glued to the TV in those days! Suzanne, Mary Moran and Karen Tosi with their busy lives managed to keep a friendship alive with frequent lunch meetings of the three cousins! Uncle Joe Tosi was a frequent guest in our home and brought his four-legged friend with him! He was a very special human being and deeply loved by Suzanne and me! Suzanne loved to gamble at the Indian casinos! Taking home a surprising amount of winnings at times! I think we were the happiest when at home sitting in our recliners watching old movies together!
What’s your fondest memory of Suzanne?
What’s a lesson you learned from Suzanne?
Share a story where Suzanne's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Suzanne you’ll never forget.
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