OBITUARY--- Age 78, of Augusta, Georgia, entered into eternal rest on November 26, 2022, at her new home in Atlanta, Georgia, with family at her side. Susan was born February 16, 1944, in Akron, Ohio to Margaret R. and Harold A. Polonus, grew up in Pittsburgh, PA graduated from Elizabeth Seton High School, and then received her nursing degree from St. Francis School of Nursing. While on her first shift in the Emergency Room as a registered nurse, she met her life's love, Edgardo Mucha, MD, whom she married on August 5, 1966. After raising their four children, Susan earned her bachelor's degree in English and Spanish from (then) Augusta State University, and a master's degree in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA. She taught English composition at ASU, and authored two medical thrillers, Deadly Deception, and its sequel, Die Before Your Time. She has written many articles and features for Augusta Magazine, The Augusta Chronicle, The Southern Cross, and served as editor for Healthscope Magazine. Susan was very active in her beloved parish, St. Mary on the Hill, for over forty years. She taught CCD, was President of the Parish Council, served as a Eucharistic Minister, and most recently was a Lector and member of the Consolation Ministry. Susan also developed a mentorship program at Immaculate Conception Catholic School. Susan enjoyed traveling the world with her family, but her favorite vacation spot was closer to home – Kiawah Island. In recent years, she relished visiting her Peruvian family in Lima. Susan is best remembered as a caregiver and everyone's loudest cheerleader. With rare exceptions, she could be found in the audience of her children's and grandchildren's games, matches, performances, etc. Susan lit up every room she entered and made all in it feel welcome, like family. She never met a stranger and never forgot a name. Susan was preceded in death by her father; mother; brother, John Polonus; sisters, Helen Collins and Nellie Devlin; her brothers-in-law, Warren Purks, Roger Heckel, Thomas Waddell; and her beloved husband, Edgardo. Susan is survived by her children, Teodoro E. Mucha II (Caitlin), Maria Elena Mucha, Carlos Alexander Mucha (Donna), Susan Margaret Mucha, MD; her daughter-in-law, Chrystelle Cuminal Mucha; her siblings, Ann Heckel, Maribeth Quigley (Jim), Peggy Polonus, Kathleen Waddell, William Polonus; her sisters-in-law, Maureen Polonus, Lee Ann Polonus, Sonia Pomalazo, and Olfe de Illescas (Luis); her brothers-in-law, Patrick Devlin and Jim Collins; and her grandchildren, Isabelle Alicia Mucha, Matthew Teodoro Mucha, Nathan Cariglio, Scarlett and Ivy Norman, and many cherished nieces and nephews and their children. The funeral Mass will be December 17, 2022 at 11 am at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church and will be followed by Susan's inurnment at St. Mary's Columbarium. The family will receive friends in the St. Mary's Narthex before Mass. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Catholic Social Services of Augusta, Georgia. The Mucha family wishes to extend its sincere gratitude to the physicians, Advanced Practice Providers, nurses, physical, occupational, respiratory, and speech/language therapists, patient care techs, chaplains, and all involved in Susan's care at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital and to Susan's caregivers, Ethel Cooper, Rhoda Cooper, and Priscilla Williams.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 11 Dec 2022.