Janet Sue (Susie) Southern , age 79, entered eternal life on October 15, 2025, after a seven-year journey with dementia.  Susie was born May 29, 1946 in Anderson, to William and Dorothy (Stookey) Stansberry.  She graduated from Wendell L. Willkie High School in 1964 and married her high school sweetheart, Steve Southern on June 27, 1964.  After raising three children, Susie earned a degree in Education from Anderson University in 1992.  She had a distinguished career as a Special Education teacher at Elwood High School, where she taught for 11 years.  She was a dedicated Pastor's wife and an accomplished Bible teacher for many years.

Susie cherished family time. Sunday dinners were the highlight of her week, and she lovingly prepared them. She made sure birthdays were celebrated with special meals and themed parties for the grandchildren. She looked forward to hosting holiday gatherings, including Easter egg hunts and filling stockings at Christmas. Susie accepted the cruel diagnosis of dementia with the same grace and dignity by which she lived her life and maintained that grace and dignity to the very end.

Survivors include her husband of 61 years, Steve Southern; children, Randy (Holly) Southern, Kristi (Jeff) Dinkel, and Kim (Andy) Klee; grandchildren, Amy (Spencer) Southern, Caleb (Taylor) Klee, Brady Southern, Matt (Audrey) Southern, Ben (Molly) Dinkel, Nick Dinkel, and Jon Dinkel; future great-grandson, Grayson Klee; siblings, Linda (Earl) Thomas and Maurice (Carol) Stansberry; sisters-in-law, Linda Southern and Judy McClish; brother-in-law, Rodger (Kanda) Southern; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Susie was preceded in death by her parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ray and Opal Southern; and daughter-in-law, Ann Southern.

The family would like to extend their most sincere gratitude to the staff of Elwood Health & Living for the compassionate care they provided for Susie over the past 2 years. From nursing to housekeeping; dietary to physical therapy; laundry to activities, the love and comfort they provided will be forever remembered.

A funeral service celebrating Susie's life will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood with Roger Gardner of Heritage Christian Church officiating. Burial will follow in the Elwood City Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 12 to 2 pm on Tuesday prior to the funeral at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Elwood & Living Activity Fund. Online condolences and memories may be shared at copherfeslermay.com.