Augustine Susie Hamburg, fondly known as Susie, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 26, 2025, in Mount Vernon, IL. Born on April 15, 1938, in Romania, Susie led a remarkable life full of resilience, dedication, and love. She was 86 years old.
Susie’s early life was marked by displacement due to World War II. Born to Pius and Kartela Thernes, she tragically lost her parents and siblings during the war. She was lovingly raised by her grandmother, Begnigna Thernes, in Regensburg, Germany. In 1956, at the age of 18, Susie embarked on a courageous journey to America, seeking hope and new beginnings. With her cousin and his wife, she sailed across the Atlantic, her heart swelling with emotion as she glimpsed the Statue of Liberty and entered through Ellis Island. They eventually settled in Chicago, where Susie found work in a factory and met her first husband, Coy Jackson.
Susie and Coy were blessed with two children, Tom and Sandy. The family lived in Schiller Park, a Chicago suburb, until 1975 when the desire for a rural life led them to the welcoming community of Mount Vernon, Southern Illinois. After Coy’s passing, Susie’s life unfolded through marriages to Tom Wells and later to Jack Hamburg, with whom she shared nearly three decades in Centralia, cultivating a lovely home and embracing a circle of dear friends.
A woman of many talents and interests, Susie worked for over 25 years as a job coach at Jefferson County Comprehensive Services, where her empathy and commitment had a lasting impact on many lives. She took pleasure in gardening, cooking German delicacies, and creating beautiful knitted and crocheted items. Her distinctive German accent enlivened her storytelling, drawing listeners into the rich tapestry of her experiences. An avid Chicago Cubs fan, she never missed a game, cheering on her beloved Cubbies with great enthusiasm.
Her social nature thrived in the community, enjoying dances and gatherings at the Centralia Elks, Moose, and American Legion with Jack. Susie’s warm and joyful spirit resonated in every interaction. Susie will be deeply missed, her spirit living on through the lives she touched and the memories she created.
Susie is survived by her loving children, Sandy Storm and Tom Jackson and his wife Cathi, all of Mount Vernon; her grandchildren, Clay Jackson and wife Hannah of Louisville, KY, and Casey Harp and husband Josh of Mount Vernon; and her cherished great-grandchildren, Elise Anne Harp and Scottie Frances Jackson. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Coy Jackson, Tom Wells, and Jack Hamburg.
Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Thursday, January 30, 2025, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm at Hillcrest Lakeside Chapel in Centralia, followed by a Funeral Service at 1:00 PM. Entombment will follow at the Hillcrest Lakeside Mausoleum. Per the family’s request, the Funeral Service will be live-streamed on the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Marion County Project Bread, a cause close to Susie’s heart. Contributions will be accepted at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home, which is honored to be of service to Susie’s family. Condolences may be shared online at www.sutherlandfuneralhome.com or through the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home Facebook page.
