Susan Nixon Darling … aka “Aunt Susie”
Sue Nixon Darling was born and raised in Massillon, Ohio and graduated from Perry High School in 1969.
Susan was the long time owner of Aunt Susie’s Gifts and Necessities in Springboro and Centerville, and was also an accomplished floral designer. Susan was an animal lover, especially her own cats and dogs, and she loved to cook, opening her home every New Year’s Day for her famous sauerkraut and pork. She married the love of her life Greg Darling in 1978 and was married for 33 years before her death in 2011. They made their homes in Wooster, Youngstown, and Cleveland before moving to Centerville in 1989. She was a trained floral designer and in 1994 received her Associate Degree in Business for Sinclair College.
After spending most of her working career in retail, she fulfilled a lifetime dream of opening a storefront when she opened “Aunt Susie’s Gifts and Necessities” in a historical building in Springboro, Ohio in 1997. She was loved by her customers, her staff, and her community, many of whom would come to “Susie” for a friendly chat in her office, a former kitchen, getting refreshments out of her fridge vegetable drawer, and get some of her wisdom. She was innovative and highly respected – for example, she was the first in her community to offer gourmet foods. In 2000, she received the “Springboro Small Business of the Year” award from the Chamber of Commerce. Interestingly, the award was presented to her by Rob Portman, then a local congressman, now a Senator for the state of Ohio.
In 2010, she was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer, which finally took her life, with her husband by her side, on August 22, 2011. During her illness, despite the suffering, Sue rarely let it get her down. She once said “Greg, I am not living this illness. I will follow my doctor’s instructions and live my life.” She was truly inspiring … always coming to the aid of family and friends who needed her. People were drawn to Sue by her love, sincerity, and wisdom. She had an empathetic ear for anyone who sought her out.
Her legacy will live forever and the world is a better place for her time on earth. She will always be missed. She would not want us to labor long in grief. She would say “Move on your with life!”
Aunt Susie’s Cancer Wellness Center was incorporated in the State of Ohio in Stark County as a non-profit corporation. The organization received its 501(c)3 status (letter of determination) in December, 2012. This corporation was created in memory of Susan Nixon Darling who passed away from ovarian cancer on August 22, 2011 by her friend, Marlene Mason and Greg Darling, Sue’s husband.
Our mission is to provide compassionate care to people in Stark County, Ohio, who have been diagnosed with cancer, and support their caregivers and families with day to day responsibilities.
This care is available to everyone regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, or age.
Our vision is to offer a caring environment where we ease the burden and help with the needs of people in our communities living with cancer, their families and caregivers.
Aunt Susie’s Cancer Wellness Center is headquartered in Stark County, Ohio. Our organization is working hand in hand with other local agencies, hospitals, retailers, and service providers to accomplish our mission.
Services
Transportation
If needed as determined in the family meeting, we will set up a schedule for transportation to your treatment and doctor appointments with family, friends, and volunteers.
Aunt Susie’s volunteers are insured and have passed a complete background check!
Salon Services
You deserve to look good! Our local partners provide haircuts, shaving, styling, and wigs.
Support Groups
Support, understanding, tips and tools from fellow cancer patients and caregivers. Check our home page for upcoming group meetings.
Dignity Tops, and more
Hospital gowns are not the most stylish and can reveal more of you than you are comfortable with, so the Dignity Top was created. Especially comfortable for breast cancer patients, Aunt Susie’s Dignity Top allows you to wear your own top that is comfortable, easy to get on and off, and very modest when taking your treatment. Bras and Protheses coming soon – call us for info.
Food Assistance
Use gift cards to purchase items suggested by your doctors to eat and supplement daily supplies that are needed for treatment issues, or enjoy delivery of Meals on Wheels.
House Cleaning
Let someone else make your house look sparkling clean. When you are going through this cancer journey, the day is so much better when you walk into your home that is welcoming you to come in!
Extra Essentials
You’ll need some things to help mitigate treatment effects like creams, pads, and gauze, to name a few. Another local Aunt Susie’s partner has stepped up to help by providing those extra essentials that are not otherwise covered.
Companion Program
Offering encouragement and understanding by phone and email.
No one knows how they are going to react when they are diagnosed with cancer.
Everyone responds to the news in different ways. Cancer can turn your whole world upside down.
There are so many questions that you have. Sometimes ,you are so overwhelmed with the diagnosis that you do not know where to begin.
Aunt Susie’s Cancer Wellness Center was created to help the whole family get through this time of not knowing what will happen next.
Families with cancer rely on us for help with their day to day responsibilities.
As a parent, your first priority is always your family, and cancer does not take that away from you! Aunt Susie’s will assist you in keeping your family’s daily routine.
We are here to help!
Aunt Susie’s will make a monthly plan for you that will coordinate these services. We want to help make your day as normal as possible.
ACCEPTS VIRTUAL CLIENTS
Mailing Address:
2813 Whipple Ave NW
Canton, OH 44708
Office:
2813 Whipple Ave NW
Canton, OH 44720
[email protected]
330-400-1215
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