Susan M. Abbott

Susan M. Abbott (nee Pihulic), age 76, of Highland, Indiana, passed away peacefully at home on October 30, 2025, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. She is survived by her daughters, Kristin (Jeff) Bagull of Hinsdale, Illinois, and Kourtney Fisher of Munster, Indiana; granddaughters, Ella and Caroline Bagull; grandsons, Jack and James Bagull, and Niko Hoshaw; sister, Sarah (Jim) Wojcik; significant other, Eric Abbott; and numerous cousins, many of whom she loved as siblings. Susan was preceded in death by her loving parents, Richard “Doc” and Beatrice Pihulic. She was born in East Chicago, Indiana, and grew up in Whiting and Munster, Indiana, as well as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Susan graduated from Bishop Noll Institute in 1967, where she made many close friends. She then attended Indiana University Bloomington, where she was a proud member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, and she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics in 1971. She went on to receive her master’s degree in education from Purdue University Calumet. Susan followed in her mother and dear aunt’s footsteps and pursued a lifelong career in teaching. She passionately taught home economics at both high school and middle school levels for over 40 years in Highland, Crown Point, and Hammond. Susan especially loved teaching Quest life skills to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders at Scott Middle School in Hammond. Even after retiring, Susan continued to substitute teach for extended periods of time until as recently as May 2025, and she was devastated to be unable to continue doing so because of her recent illness. Over the course of her teaching career, she served as class sponsor, worked numerous school sporting events, taught summer school, mentored students, and established close friendships with her teaching colleagues, many of whom she viewed as family. Susan especially enjoyed trips with her teaching colleagues to places like Boston and South Dakota. In her retirement, Susan spent long periods of time at her second home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she had an active social life and served on the Board of Directors. She was a lifelong member of the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association; St. Thomas More Parish in Munster, Indiana; and St. Pius X Parish in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Susan was a dedicated teacher, friend, employee, cousin, niece, mother, and grandmother, but her most coveted role was that of daughter. She always said that her personal heroes were her parents, because they taught her to have a strong character and work ethic. Her family takes a great deal of comfort in knowing that she is reunited with her parents and likely already playing card games with them again. Friends and family may pay their respects at Burns-Kish Funeral Homes, Inc., 8415 Calumet Avenue, Munster, Indiana, on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 8501 Calumet Avenue, Muster, IN. Rev. Bruno Socha officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Susan’s name. Burns Funeral Home & Crematory, Crown Point, IN, entrusted with arrangements. www.burnsfuneral.com.

Susan M. Abbott

May 31, 1949 - October 30, 2025