One such person was Susan Kniffel who died on March 18, 2007. She is survived by three daughters: Robin Kniffel Durr and husband Bradford of Alton, Heidi Crouch and husband Steve of Highland, and Heather Kniffel of Edwardsville; three grandchildren, Asia and Greyson Durr and Bradley Crouch; and a sister, Barbara Terry, of Seminole, Florida.

Susan was a past-president and long-time NAMI member of NAMI Madison County. She served for six years on the Illinois NAMI Board of Directors and was an editor of the NAMI Illinois "Stateline" newsletter. She also served on the NAMI Peer Review Board, taught Peer-to-Peer courses for consumers, testified before the Illinois State Legislature, served on the Illinois State Mental Health Advisory Board and the Illinois State Mental Health Consumer Council. Many times, I had the good fortune of attending the Illinois Department of Human Services Network Advisory Meetings in Alton with her.

While dealing with bipolar disorder, she managed to work as a school psychologist and cope with breast cancer. During her treatment for cancer, she used her case to expose barriers for healthcare imposed by the insurance industry.

Susan was a friend, confidante, and mentor for countless people as well as a wonderful advocate for better treatment and services for people with mental illness. She loved to go to NAMI National annual meetings and NAMI Illinois conferences and in recent years would drive long distances to meetings in a "vintage" car that many of us would have been afraid to drive!

If you had the good fortune of being invited into her home as I had, you would have seen many nautical- themed items adorning her walls and enjoyed the view of the little pond complete with ducks outside her living room. She loved all things connected with water - scuba-diving, parasailing, and swimming with the dolphins.

In a Christmas letter dated Dec. 1, 2006, she remarked, "I have so many pills in my medicine cabinet that there's no room for make-up. Now I ask you, doesn't a woman my age need cosmetics as much as pharmaceuticals?" That was Susan - loving life and laughter. She then spoke about her sister. She concluded the letter with the following: "Here we are again... at war at Christmas-time (our country, not my sister and me.). I always think of the Christmas angels saying '...on earth, peace, good will toward men.' I don't understand why we, on earth, have not learned that, after 2000 plus years. At any rate, I send YOU good will and wish you, PEACE...."

Susan, may you rest in peace. Thank you for a job well-done and being a dear friend.

 

     Be a NAMI Volunteer

Pat Rudloff