Remembering Susan Laz Vogus
This month I wanted to try a new idea, giving a little bit more of a personal and behind-the-scenes view of why we do what we do at AbleVoices through a blog post.
It has been almost a month since my mother-in-law, Susan Laz Vogus, passed away. She was known to most as ‘Laz’ and was truly an amazing woman. She lived a life devoted to her family and improving the lives of others through her work and volunteer service. My husband, Tim, wrote her obituary that highlights many of those things but capturing her life and contributions would fill multiple volumes. We have been reminiscing and sharing stories about Laz since her passing, missing her, and appreciating the time we spent together. Her passing also caused me to reflect on the multiple ways in which she played a foundational role in inspiring and shaping AbleVoices.
Ever since I can remember, Laz always had her Canon camera handy and was the go-to person taking pictures at family gatherings. My husband, Tim, and I began dating in 1996 and we have Laz to thank for the many photos documenting so many wonderful memories. She thoughtfully made us photo albums from each visit or vacation we took together. And after our son, Aidan, was born, Laz bought me my first DSLR camera for my birthday. Little did I know then that this gift would open up entirely new worlds and opportunities for me. She instilled in me the value of photographs as treasured ways to record the present, revisit the past, allow for reflection and discussion and evoke a spectrum of emotions.
Laz had a deep and enduring connection with Aidan (her first grandchild), who has a disability and does not communicate verbally. She loved singing and reading books to him and quietly observing animals together in the backyard. The vacation and trip photo albums also became treasured items for Aidan. They had a special bond and Aidan loved being with her and laughing with her. She knew that even though he does not speak, he has lots to say! In fact, throughout her life, Laz always made sure everyone had a voice. That was a defining feature of her work, her parenting, and her life… always making sure everyone was fully included.
Laz dedicated her life serving others in a myriad of ways – as a teacher in the public schools as well as in a juvenile detention center, as president of the school board, as a court appointed advocate for CASA, and as a community leader. Her commitment to working to make education and communities accessible for all influenced my aspirations for AbleVoices and she was an invaluable and ardent supporter. She loved hearing updates, whether it was on Facetime calls or during visits to Illinois or Wisconsin. It was easy to talk to Laz about my ideas and she always listened intently and offered sharp questions to ponder and sage advice on how to make AbleVoices even more impactful. I always valued and already miss her feedback.
When talking with others I often say about my husband’s parents, “I hit the in-law jackpot!” Laz and my father-in-law, Jerry, welcomed me unconditionally into the Vogus family and I have loved going along for the ride! In addition to being inspirations and supporters of what AbleVoices does they were also perfect role models of a great marriage. The love they showed for each other was evident not in grandiose gestures but by how they respected and supported each other, laughed together, and by their team approach in decisions they made together throughout their 53-and-a-half-year marriage.
I am fortunate to have had such a thoughtful, strong, and empathetic female role model in my life. There are others too, such as my own mom, sister, aunts, grandmothers, and friends- but Laz influenced me in unique ways that continue to fundamentally shape me and AbleVoices. Thank you, Laz. We love and miss you!
