Susan Bliss Bjorkman, 74, of Rock Island, died Thursday, July 20, 20017 at her home.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, July 26 at 11 am at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 3030 7th Ave., Rock Island, followed by a reception at the Hauberg Center, Rock Island.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation or Broadway Historic District Association (Memo: Broadway Feral Friends).

Susan received her Medical Lab Training at the Professional Business Institute in Minneapolis and worked as a lab technician for more than 40 years. She began her career at Lutheran Hospital and later was employed by several hospitals in Moline and Rock Island, as well as Metro Lab and ORA.

Susan was a wonderful cook and baker and, as a result, has a collection of cherished recipes. She could spend hours in a gourmet grocery store going up and down every aisle as she prepped and explored. She fulfilled a lifelong dream of cooking in Julia Child's kitchen as she toured and tasted her way through France. She touched many lives and made lifelong friends while teaching Lamaze classes, taking swim classes, and learning what she could about all the various religions of the world.  Susan enjoyed a great bottle of wine, a nice piece of chocolate, margaritas with friends and family, and she loved her Birkenstock sandals.  She was an avid reader and greatly enjoyed her book club and adored all of the women in it.  For all that Susan was passionate about, it was her personal connections with her many friends and relationships that was the true source of joy throughout her journey and, of course, she cherished her YaYa's.

Survivors include her husband, Sam; son and daughter-in-law, Andrew and Veronica Bjorkman, Champaign, Ill.; daughter, Sarah Bjorkman, Sanford, N.C.., sister, Connie Sellers, Moline; brother and sister-in-law, Thomas and Patricia Clain, Bettendorf; many nieces and nephews; and special friends, Andrew George and Mark Oesch, Grand Rapids, Mich.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Marvin and Joyce Clain; sister, Anne Holliday; and son, David Bjorkman.

The family would like to send a special thank you to Dr. Stewart Garneau and his entire staff for all the love and support throughout "Spicy Basil's" courageous and long battle.

Online condolences may be left at wheelanpressly.com