Susan Carnicom was one of my closest, dearest friends. She is greatly missed by family, friends, and loved ones. Susan was one of the kindest, sweetest people I've ever known. - Michelle Phaup
THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Thursday, May 31, 2007
By Lindsey Poisson
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Susan Carnicom's artistic talent and thoughtful nature are the first things friends and family recall of a woman who they say did all she could for everyone she knew.
Carnicom, 49, died Sunday. She was diagnosed with melanoma six years ago.
Photos of Carnicom show a beautiful, smiling woman in wedding poses, on vacations - even posing with real estate mogul Donald Trump.
Some of her watercolor paintings and other artworks are displayed in her Clio home.
Carnicom traveled quite a bit, including to several states, the Bahamas, London and Paris, said her husband, Tim. The couple were forced to cancel travel to Paris in January due to her illness. They had planned to retire to their home in The Villages, Fla., this summer.
Carnicom graduated in 1979 from the University of Southern Mississippi where she studied art and marketing. In 1986, she moved to Michigan, where she pursued a career involving real estate titles and mortgages until she was unable to continue in 2005.
She was noted for her love of boating, waterskiing and shopping, and would instantly brighten up at the sight of her grandson Matthew, who just learned to call her "Gram," Tim Carnicom said.
He met his wife-to-be on a blind date in 2001 when she had just had a mole removed from her right thigh, he said. A few days later, a biopsy showed she had melanoma.
Although "all FDA-approved medicine had been exhausted" by January, alternative medicine helped Carnicom to live longer than doctors anticipated, Tim Carnicom said.
Hospice nurses were especially helpful and much appreciated, he said.
Carnicom's mother, Shirley George, said that from a young age Carnicom showed aptitude for art. She led an active lifestyle by starting to work at age 11, helping a neighbor who ran a day-care center, she said.
When Carnicom's son was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2000, she traveled between work and the hospital almost daily.
Clarkston resident Michelle Phaup said Carnicom "preferred to help other people" and didn't like to have the focus on herself.
"She said she always thought she had to get better to help people, but she realized she had to do it now," said Carnicom's friend for about 12 years. "She talked about starting a support group for people with melanoma."
Phaup said Carnicom was active with the Clio area's Relay for Life and helped with events for the nonprofit Children are Precious organization in Waterford.
Her funeral was to be held today at O'Guinn Family Funeral Home. Burial was to be in West Vienna Cemetery.
She also leaves parents Shirley and Gary George of The Villages, Fla., sister Lorie George of Collierville, Tenn., children Justin and Blake Burns of Linden, stepdaughter Amanda Carnicom of Mt. Morris and a 3 1/2-half-year-old grandson.
Memorial donations may be made to the hospice division of the Visiting Nurse Services of Michigan. Condolence messages may be left at www.oguinnfh.com.
