Susan Maureen Hohl Schmidhammer of Sunbury passed away on March 10 at the James Cancer Center of the Ohio State University Hospital.   She is the 6th of sixteen children born to Margaret Hohl Leffler and the late John Jason Hohl.  She is survived by her daughter, Shannon, mother, Margaret, 15 sisters and brothers, and dozens of nieces and nephews.   

A graduate of St. Francis DeSales High School, she worked as an accountant for Lucent Technologies for 27 years.  An avid gardener and a stained glass artist, she also loved crafts, and sewing.  

Susie was a co-owner of the Glass Rooster Cannery and Art  Barn of Sunbury, which she shared with her sister, Jeannie. Susie’s transformed her five acres of property into a small slice of heaven, an artist’s mecca, a playground for children of all ages.  Everywhere  in this wonderland was a piece of unique art—pottery on the garage wall, a tattooed mannequin in a clump of reeds, a rusting plow in a thicket of weeds, stepping stones inlaid with “jewels.”

Susie readily shared her artistic talents and her expansive heart with her relatives, friends and the community. She was the ultimate Tom Sawyer and had a unique gift for making all feel welcome and special. She believed in the dreamers.  She was an active member of the Harlem Township community, lending help to Grange dinners and festivals and showing kindness to everyone who came into contact with her.

In the words of her daughter Shannon:  

“Mom, do you remember your horse, Lady Di?  

Do you see the forest?

Get on your horse and gallop 

Far, far away into the forest.  

Fly away. 

Fly away. 

Fly away.”

At Susie’s directive, a party in celebration of Susie’s life will be held at the Glass Rooster Cannery from 1-4 PM on Sunday, March 11 at 1673 South State Route 605, Sunbury Ohio 43074.  

Donation in Susie’s name can be made to the Harlem Township Heritage Association, % Harlem Fire Station, 3883 S. State Route 605, Galena OH 43021.