Susannah

Susannah, known within her family as Sassy, is remembered as Carl Bertolli’s younger sister and Kate MacKenna’s dear friend. Her story is told through Carl’s recollection: a friendship that began in a hospital endured after Kate no longer had reason to visit, and continued to shape Kate’s work even after Susannah died.

Identity and Background

Susannah was two years younger than Kate. She had been ill for a long time, moving in and out of the hospital so frequently that she called it her home away from home. The account does not specify her illness, but it makes clear that hospitalization was a recurring part of her life and that her final days were marked by severe weakness.

Meeting Kate and Sustaining Their Friendship

Susannah met Kate when both were at the hospital with family members: Kate was waiting for her mother to come out of X-ray, while Susannah was waiting to be taken in. Carl’s sister introduced them, and they became close quickly. Kate was still in high school, already making candles with unusual scents, and asked Susannah to give her opinion on some of them. The request made Susannah feel important and welcomed her into Kate’s creative work from the beginning.

When Kate’s mother went into remission, Kate no longer needed to come to the hospital. She nevertheless continued to visit Susannah, including during college vacations when she came home. Wherever Kate was, she sent Susannah something each week: a candle, special lotion, or flower. The gifts served as small reminders that Kate was thinking of her, while the continuing visits kept their connection alive beyond the circumstances of their first meeting.

Susannah’s Place in Kate’s Work and Memory

Kate continued to ask for Susannah’s thoughts whenever she began a new product. As Carl explains it, Kate did not need the opinions to proceed; asking gave Susannah something to anticipate, particularly during the last days when she was weak. The exchange made their friendship more than a memory of visits: Susannah remained a trusted participant in Kate’s creative life.

Susannah died in September. Kate did not forget her after her death; she developed a special perfume to be named for her friend. The product carries the name Susannah, while Sassy preserves the affectionate family name Carl shares in telling the story. Through that dedication, a friendship begun beside hospital waiting rooms persists in Kate’s work, joining personal remembrance to the company of products Susannah had once helped shape.