Susan “Sue” Wilson (nee Fraser)

On December 19, 2022, Susan “Sue” Worth Wilson (nee Fraser) passed away peacefully in Vernon, BC. Married for 56 years, Sue leaves behind her husband, Donald Cathcart Wilson, children Kathryn (Troy), David, Steven (Becky), grandchildren Harland, Shelby, Dylan, Branden, sisters Anne (Dan) & Joan (Roy), nieces Meghan, Sara, Kathryn, Mary, Jenny, and many wonderful friends, including her best friend, Ruth.

Born in Vancouver, Sue grew up on Skaha Lake. She loved the Okanagan, her family’s orchard, then the vineyard, the fun of the lakefront, riding her beloved horse Satchi and visiting her grandfather at SYL Ranch.  Later, her MGB was a prized possession and she and her Dad were eager attendees each day at the Indy 500 when it ran in Vancouver in the 90’s.  Sue treasured forever her summers spent with Don, their family, and friends at their cabin at Mara Lake.

After graduating UBC with a degree in Home Economics, she married Don and moved to Kamloops, where they taught at Norkam Secondary.  They then spent happy years in both Bellingham and Edmonton before relocating to Vancouver where Sue completed her master’s degree. She and her sister, Anne Gardiner, worked for many years together teaching and writing about the science of cooking. They co-taught undergraduates at UBC in the Food and Nutrition program and also their popular course, The Chemistry of Cooking, in the Continuing Ed program. Their magazine articles, website, and classes dealing with how cooking works were unique and for 13 years, they wrote a weekly column The Inquisitive Cook for Canadian newspapers. They also loved their work with The Exploratorium in San Francisco and their book The Inquisitive Cook published in 1998 continues to be in print.

Once retired, Sue took up painting and was proud to become an Active Member of the Canadian Federation of Artists. Her first watercolour painting was displayed in an exhibit at The Federation Gallery on Granville Island in Vancouver. When asked how that was possible, she casually confided that she had been painting in her head her whole life.

Sue had many talents and achievements, but more than that, she was a devoted wife, a loving mother, and an affectionate nana, sister and aunt. She was a dear friend and a wonderful colleague. She had a rare quality of connecting with others and making them feel special. Sue lived life like fine cooking: with grace, elegance, and a touch of something extraordinary. Her wisdom and guidance will be greatly missed.

Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Pleasant Valley Funeral Home,

Phone: 250-542-4333

Condolences may be offered at www.pleasantvalleyfh.com