Susan Jo Shekerow

Susan J. Shekerow, 59 of Monument, CO, passed away Wednesday, February 23, 2011, in the Memorial Hospital Central with her family by her side.Susan was the wife of Dr. Mark D. Forte of Monument, CO.Born in Westerly, RI on September 16, 1951, she was the daughter of Joseph C. and Rose M. Sammataro Shekerow of Cranston, RI.Susan graduated from Cranston High School West and went on to major in Education at the University of Rhode Island, where she was a Delta Delta Delta sorority sister. She taught sixth grade at Edgewood Highland School before attending Boston University, where she earned a Masters degree in Communications. During her time as a teacher, Susan met Mark while on vacation in Jamaica. During their seven-year courtship, Susan worked at The Lodge at Harvard Square as the Director of Visual Merchandising for the east coast. The two were married in May of 1982 and traveled to California for Mark?s residency in Radiology. There she gave birth to two daughters; Sophie in 1985 and Charlotte in 1988. Shortly after Charlotte?s birth, the family moved to Colorado and have lived there since. Susan was a wonderful mother who spent many years driving her daughters to and from dance classes and supporting them at local and national competitions. Susan somehow found time to volunteer for organizations including the Kennedy Center Imagination Celebration and the Pikes Peak Performance Company. She was also a member of the Tri-Lakes Women?s Club and was active in the group?s philanthropy. In recent years, she connected with the Colorado Springs chapter of the Tri-Delta Alumni Association and frequently vacationed with her sorority sisters from URI. In her neighborhood, she was a member of the Women Who Read book club and loved hosting their annual holiday party. Susan will be remembered as a wonderfully vibrant, loving, and talented woman. She will be dearly missed by all those whose lives she touched.Besides her husband and parents, she leaves her daughters Sophie S. Forte of Boston, MA, and Charlotte S. Forte of Monument, CO. Susan also leaves her brothers, Mark Shekerow and his wife Stacey of Atlanta, GA, and Scott J. Shekerow and his partner Edward C. Gurka of Middletown, RI.Calling hours will be held on Thursday, March 3, 2011 from 3-7pm in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, RI.A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, March 4, 2011 at 11:00 am in Immaculate Conception Church, 237 Garden Hills Drive, Cranston, RI.Burial will follow in St. Sebastian Cemetery, Cobblestone Lane, Westerly, RI.