Susan Ann (Cheesman) Cunha-Cheesman
July 3, 1945 — July 16, 2017
On Sunday, July 16, 2017, Susan Ann Cunha-Cheesman (Sue) suddenly and unexpectedly passed away at the age of 72 at GBMC in Baltimore. Sue was born on July 3, 1945 in East New Market, MD and was a daughter of William T. and Betty (Ballentine) Cheesman.
She graduated from Cambridge High School class of 1963 and studied at St. Mary’s College, Towson University and then received her Master’s Degree from The Johns Hopkins University. She taught in the Baltimore City school system in her early life, and then was later a tutor and caretaker to many. Sue was known for her knitting, her hugs, her willingness to help those who needed her and her love of laughter.
Sue was a loving wife to Mauricio Cunha, mother of Catherine (Jason) Jaecklein and Francisco Cunha and grandmother of Jaden Jaecklein. She is survived by one sister, Kay (Lance) Bramble of Longs, SC and two brothers, Michael (Vista) Cheesman of Preston and Bill (Patricia) Cheesman of New Bern, NC, three aunts, Hilda Gemeny of East New Market, Dot Ruark of Fishing Creek, MD and Elsie Ballentine of Suwanee, GA and numerous cousins.
Besides her parents, Sue was preceded in death by her infant sister, Ellen Kay Cheesman, her maternal grandparents, Walter C. and Jesse B. Ballentine, her paternal grandparents, James M. and Mary S. Cheesman, as well as many other aunts, uncles, cousins and friends – including her dear friend, Jack Fiorini.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 1 o’clock in the afternoon at the stony Run Friends Meeting House, 5116 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21210 with a reception to follow immediately after.
In lieu of flowers, memorials contributions can be made to The Maryland School for the Blind, 3501 Taylor Ave., Baltimore, MD 21236 or at www.marylandschoolfortheblind.org or to the National Foundation for Transplants. A very dear cousin (Laine Collins) of Sue’s is suffering from Hollow Visceral Myopathy (HVM) and is in need of a small bowel transplant. Donations can be made to the NFT, Georgia Transplant Fund, 5350 Poplar Ave., Suite 430, Memphis, TN 38119 ( be sure to write “in honor of Laine Collins” on the memo line).