Suezann Bilsborough, 74, died at her home in Fallbrook, California on March 19. 2023 after a six year battle with myotonic muscular dystrophy.  Service will be held at SonRise Christian Fellowship in Fallbrook, CA Saturday at 11:00 AM.  Viewing will be from 10:00 to 11:00.

Suezann Delia Gustafson was born September 23, 1948 in Sebastopol, California. She was the third child of Roy and Evelyn (Shultz) Gustafson. Suezann grew up on a small apple farm on the outskirts of Graton, California.  She attended Oak Grove Elementary School in Graton and two years at Analy High School in Sebastopol.  She was transferred to and graduated from El Molino High School in Forestville California.

On Thanksgiving eve, 1963, she met Arlen Bilsborough.  Arlen, who was living in Sunnyvale, was the son of Suezann's mother's childhood friend from Iowa.  Sue's parents invited Arlen up for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Arlen was invited up for Christmas and for every weekend thereafter.  Between Christmas 1963 and May 1964 a romantic friendship developed between Sue and Arlen.  Between May 1964 and May 1966, while Arlen was in the Army, this romance matured into love.  Arlen returned from the Army in May 1966 and Sue and Arlen became officially engaged.

Suezann and Arlen Bilsborough were married at the Sebastopol Methodist Church on August 6, 1966.

They lived in an apartment in Mountain View, California for the first year.  In September 1967 Sue and Arlen bought a house in southeast San Jose.  They lived in that house until March 2020.  In March 2020 they sold the house in San Jose and moved to Fallbrook.

Sue and Arlen became the parents of three children:  Cindy Christine born Oct 27, 1967, Karen Lynn born Sept 28, 1969 and Troy Scott born Jun 11,1971.

After the birth of her third child Sue worked at JC Penney's.  While working for Penney's she learned to fly small airplanes and eventually earned her flight instructor rating.  She spent about a year as a flight instructor, teaching people how to fly small airplanes.  Sue gave up flight instruction and worked for Alpha-Beta Grocery Stores in order to pay for her children's education at Liberty Baptist School in San Jose.  After all her children had graduated from Liberty Baptist High School, she enrolled at Evergreen Community College and earned an AA Degree in Family Consumer Studies, concentrating on Sewing and Fashion.  She then established Fashions By Suezann , a home business of custom sewing and alterations.  She retired in 1998.

Suezann's faith has always been an important part of her life.  She was raised in the Methodist Faith.  After moving to San Jose in 1967 she and her family attended Evergreen Valley Church (American Baptist) and later, Evergreen Valley United Methodist Church.  Her three children attended and graduated from Liberty Baptist High School.  After she moved to Fallbrook in 2020 she was unable to attend church because of the Covid Pandemic.  After Covid was over, the progressing Myotonic Dystrophy made it impossible to attend church.  She did, however, get to watch the SonRise services on TV at Karen's house.

Suezann is survived by her husband, Arlen of Fallbrook, daughter and son-in-law Karen and Ryan Hunt of Fallbrook, Son and daughter-in-law Troy and Linda Bilsborough of Merced, Ca, and son-in-law Jose Sanchez of Brentwood, Ca.  Sue is also survived by six grandchildren, one granddaughter-in-law and one great-granddaughter.

Suezann was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Evelyn Gustafson, and her stepfather Orlo Zwiefel.  She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Cindy Sanchez, her younger sister Sandra Gustafson and brothers Roy Gustafson, Jr. and David Gustafson.