Suzanne Cetiner

SUZANNE Cetiner died at her home in Boston, Massachusetts, on June 18 following a prolonged illness. 

Aged 43, she was the granddaughter of the late Charles and Olwen Leathem, daughter of Jennifer and sister of Selma.

Suzie, as she was known, was born in Downpatrick on August 19, 1969, and emigrated to the United States with her family at the age of six. She attended high school in Boston and later graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Communications and Economics.

She had a zest for life and after university spent a few years travelling abroad before returning to Boston and establishing her career as a stock broker. She trained with Morgan Stanley at the World Trade Center in New York and worked for that firm for a number of years before being approached by another firm, Dean Whitter.

Suzie finally took a post as financial advisor with Charles Schwab, building up a large portfolio of clients and achieving recognition in the North Eastern region of the US.

Suzie was a fun loving, outgoing person with a very generous nature and gave freely to children’s charities. It was her strength of character which helped carry her through her long debilitating illness and she maintained her sharp wit and sense of humour right to the end.

She was a little lady with a big heart and a cheeky grin, who will be sadly missed by her family in the US, the Leathem and Clarke families in Downpatrick and cousins in Australia, Spain, England and Scotland.