Plainfield Community Gathers to Mourn Teacher

Despite the tragic circumstances under which Susan Cunningham died, there’s one thing her family, friends, students and co-workers can take solace in: she was dearly loved.

Hundreds of students, staff and community members came out to a vigil at Plainfield North High School to show their love and to share memories of her.

Susan, known to her students as Ms. Triplett, her maiden name, cared about her students deeply, as every teacher does. But with Susan it was apparent and natural. She was a woman who loved what she did and that love spread throughout the students.

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“She was the best teacher here,” said Brittany Trainor, a 21-year-old almuna of Plainfield North and former student of Susan. “She was always there for all of us. She was a huge role model for all of us. She was there for her students, her family and her friends before herself. She always put us first.”

And with her she carried a message: to find the happiness within. A thought she’d be likely to spread even in current circumstances.

“Smile at least five times a day” was one of “Trip’s Tips,” according to a handout at the vigil. Susan had written down lessons for her students to help them on their journey through life.

“Do what you can to help others.”

“Find something you like to do and work hard.”

“Dream big.”

“Don’t hate.”

They’re lessons that will now have a more profound meaning.

Susan was a health and physical education teacher from 2002 to 2006 at Plainfield Central. She then made the move to Plainfield North where the taught the same subjects. A battle with cancer put her on medical leave at the start of this year. She had been battling cancer for a while, according to students.

“From what I heard, she had just got cured a couple of weeks ago,” said Brendan Wilczewski, 17.

Wilczewski didn’t have her as a teacher, but her influence was still felt.

“I knew her more as a friend than a teacher just because she was always open,” he said. “She never hid anything. She would explain to us about her plans for her wedding, what her children do.”

She touched the lives of others, said Dan Brown, Susan’s brother, but she received the same.

“I know that you’re all here because she touched your life in some way, shape or form,” Brown said to the hundreds gathered. “More importantly, what I would like to thank you for is that you touched her in the same way.”

John Ciesniewski, pastor at Community Christian Church, where Susan worshiped, said one of the things he’s going to miss the most about Susan is her smile.

“She was always about making you feel special and she did that with her smile,” Ciesniewski said.

Each of Susan’s friends became “entranced with her honesty and her soul,” according to Elly Stonis, who spoke on behalf of a group of friends.

“I remember the first time I met her, I probably told her my deepest, darkest secrets and I was afraid she wouldn’t talk to me again,” Stonis said. “But she was the easiest person to speak to.”

Susan would take the time to get know her students by remembering something unique and special about them.

“She found something special in every one of you,” Stonis said to the students. “You guys were all of her kids. She never judged you. She loved you.”

Ciesniewski led the crowd in singing a verse from “Amazing Grace” before students placed tokens near a pole in remembrance of her.

Visitation will be held Saturday afternoon from 2 to 6 p.m. at Community Christian Church in Naperville, located at 1635 Emerson Ln. From 6 to 7 p.m. there will be a formal service that will be facilitated by Ciesniewski.