Susan Carls Pfeil

Susan Carls Pfeil, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on April 30, 2026, at the age of 78.

Born on October 27, 1947, and raised in New Jersey, Susan graduated from Ramapo High School and went on to work at NJ Bell. During this time, mutual friends set her up on a blind date with Mark Pfeil. After just three dates, Susan and Mark eloped, beginning a marriage and loving partnership that would last for nearly 57 years.

Together, Susan and Mark raised their four daughters, Barbara Jean Holmes, Cheryl Meltzer, Karen Grossi, and Jeanette Himpele, first in Danbury, Connecticut, and later in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Their family grew to include four sons in law and eventually three grandchildren. Above all, being a grandmother to Nathan, Tara, and Ali was one of her greatest joys.

Spending time with family meant so much to Susan, she truly cherished the experiences and memories they shared together. She always looked forward to the annual Carls family gatherings with her siblings Edward Carls, Elizabeth Greenleaf, and Dorothy Luzzi, along with their extended families. Though this tradition became more difficult to maintain as the family grew, keeping up with these occasions became especially meaningful to her in recent years.

Susan loved to travel and explore the country, creating cherished memories on cross country trips with her family. In retirement, she and Mark continued their adventures in their RV, ultimately visiting all 50 states over her lifetime. Along the way, they found themselves drawn to Florida, spending extended time there each winter before eventually settling in Fort Myers in recent years.

Susan was a woman of remarkable strength, resilience, determination, and generosity. She balanced years of dedicated work in the healthcare field, where she was an invaluable employee, with a deep commitment to raising her family. Never one to shy away from a challenge, she demonstrated her quiet toughness by completing her “first and last,” as she often said, marathon at the age of 62, despite never having been a runner. She continued her commitment to health and fitness at Orangetheory Fitness, where her dedication and effort stood out, often leaving younger members in awe of her consistency, strength and determination. 

That same strength and unwavering commitment to her family carried her through a courageous 3.5-year battle with pancreatic cancer. She was a true warrior, whose strength and resilience remained evident until the very end.