Resident of Oroville

Susannah Catherine Wedgwood, age 57, of Oroville, California died on October 4th after a year-long battle with cancer.

Born in Bloomington, Indiana on September 18, 1967, she and her family moved to San Francisco four years later. She attended school in SF. She loved the city and called it home. In 1985, her son Ely was born.

With little formal education and a GED, she began working as a typist. Susannah acquired skills and training in office automation, and she brought companies into the computer age.

She worked at start-ups all over the Bay Area, and found her niche as amedical device manufacturing specialist. She soon became was sought-after for her skills and ability to understand people with specialized knowledge, advanced degrees, and great ideas. According to a longtime friend, the two of them held several US and international patents pertaining to these specialized devices.

An unexpected joy in her mature life was connecting with her two long-lost biological sisters, Kelly Cash and Mary Shea and their families.

Susannah was musical—she sang and played guitar, banjo and bass in several bluegrass groups, jams, and venues in the East Bay area. She played with the Old Time Fiddlers in Oroville, District One, for several years. She hosted jams at her home with Jack and often attended campouts and bluegrass events. She was well known for her authentic voice and harmonies. Her rich tone was often compared to Hazel Dickens.

One album has her singing (backup) which is the Tom Mitchell and Friends-Bluegrass Country album. It is available on CD baby. Mixed by Joe Weed.

She owned a historic Craftsman home in Oroville, California that she has carefully restored and decorated with a blend of antique and modern design, a monument to her taste and eye for detail. She was an avid gardener with a succulent collection which helped make the home a standout for visitors and passersby.

Susannah enjoyed the company of cats, and participated in a“trap, neuter, release” program for feral cats. She also rescued, sweetened, house trained and adopted-out dozens of cats on her own. She has always owned strays.

Susannah was predeceased by her mother Stephanie, better known as Jehanna Wedgwood, a celebrated poet, leader of readings at Sacred Grounds for decades, and a long-time Druid at the Grove of Manannan Mac Lir.

Susannah is survived by her son Ely Mariweather; her longtime partner and love of her life, Jack O’Shea; her father, Steve Wedgwood; stepmother Diana; and siblings Tom Wedgwood, Margaret Wedgwood-Beith, Daniel Wedgwood and her close cousins, including Jenna Hillard and David Love.

Space does not allow for all the spouses and children that her heart knew well. Aprivate memorial will be held in Oroville on October 26th, 2024. Please contact Jack: banjojackoshea@gmail.com for details.