Susan Chaffin

Susan Marie Chaffin, 57, died Monday, October 5, 2015 at Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville. Lovely, Loving, and Beloved are the words that best describe Susan. Relatives and friends are invited to Susan's life celebrations Saturday, October 17, from 1:00 - 3:30 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home, 320 West Seventh Street, Columbia, TN and Saturday, October 24 from 12:00 - 3:00 P.M. at Riverside Grille, 100 Melton Lake Drive, Oak Ridge, TN. Oakes & Nichols Funeral Directors are assisting the family with arrangements and condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Susan was born February 16, 1958 in Warner Robins, Georgia to mother, Tennie Cathey Chaffin, father, James Aubrey Chaffin (died in 1966) and big sister Nancy Jane Chaffin. After the death of Dad in Spain, where the family was stationed in the Air Force, Mom and the two girls moved to Columbia, TN, close to where Mom grew up and had lots of family. Susan graduated from Columbia Central High School in 1976, and from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1981, with a double major in Human Services and Spanish. In 1983, a family friend offered to get Susan a job in Washington, DC, and that was her home for many years. She held several jobs, but her favorite was working for Iona Senior Services. At Iona, she combined two passions: helping people and she could wear her fabulous clothes and shoes to work! Susan loved literature and history, was very well-read, and enjoyed movies. She also liked to travel, and had adventures all over the world. With her good humor and generous spirit, she collected friends wherever she went. Christmas week of 2012, she got the terrible diagnosis of uterine leiomyosarcoma, a rare and incurable cancer. Through friends, she connected with a wonderful gynecological oncologist, Gottfried Konecny, at UCLA Medical Center, who directed her care for almost two years, and he continued to consult after Susan moved back east. Throughout the last three years, she faced her illness and the many treatments with remarkable grace and courage. She is survived by her mother, Tennie Cathey Chaffin; sister, Nancy Chaffin Cosgrove; favorite brother-in-law, Johnny Cosgrove; and special cousins, Phyllis Akers, Elizabeth and David Mundie, and Frank and Gail Cathey, as well as extended family members and many, many friends. The family wishes to thank the many, many friends who provided laughs, love and support; we are truly blessed to have you in our lives. Also a special thanks to Dr. Gottfried Konecny, and his wife Susanne Claussen, and Patti McGovern, who ran the St. James Inn and made sure Susan had a place to live while being treated in Los Angeles. Dr. Brook Saunders was very kind and caring, while directing Susan's care the last few weeks. Melissa Bishop, social worker, was also very helpful to the family at the end, spending all day with us and helping with arrangements. Susan would want to help others receive the care they need. Since the most cutting edge cancer treatment may be far from home, the family requests that donations go to the St. James Inn, P. O. Box 64494, Los Angeles, CA 90064 or stjamesinn.org. Alternately, consider donating to the Hope Lodge of your choice. Go to cancer.org to find out more.