Susan L. Shilling

Susan Shilling, 50, of 240 Keely Road, Franklin, died at 10:45 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008, at UPMC Northwest. Born March 31, 1958, in Tiffin, Ohio, she was the daughter of Al Shilling and Nancy Long Shilling. She was a 1976 graduate of Franklin High School and attended Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio. She graduated from Clarion University with a degree in psychology. She was employed at Victims Resource Center as a caseworker, at St. Benedict Education Center as a life and job skills educator, and at the Venango County district attorney's office as a victim's advocate. She was a co-originator of Camp C.R.E.A.T.E. in Franklin, and she was a member of the Franklin Civic Operetta Association, where she served as a performer, director, stage manager and producer. She was also the drama director at Franklin High School, and she enjoyed knitting, crocheting, gardening and reading. She was a member and elder at Utica Presbyterian Church, and she also taught Sunday school there. She is survived by her parents, Al and Nancy Shilling of Franklin; one child, Madison E. Shilling at home; three sisters, Tami Shilling of Meadville, Kathleen Haliburton of Pittsburgh and Julie Shilling of Franklin; and one niece, Paige Rhodes of Franklin. She was preceded in death by her maternal and paternal grandparents. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Robert W. Gardinier Funeral Home Inc. in Franklin. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Utica Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Jen Haddox, associate director of the World Mission Initiative, officiating. Interment will follow in Franklin Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or Utica Presbyterian Church. Condolences may be sent online at www.gardinierfuneralhome.com