Susanne Heil Wolf

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Susanne Heil Wolf, age 81, died peacefully at home surrounded by love on February 14, 2025.

A native of Dunmore, Pa., she was born on January 9, 1944, to the late Harry and Emma Heil.

She attended Marywood Seminary and Marywood College before becoming a nurse at Cornell University—New York Hospital School of Nursing in 1966. While working as a community nurse in New York City, she fell head over heels for Gregory Thomas Wolf of Scranton, Pa. They married in 1968 and moved to Chapel Hill for graduate school.

Sue, as friends and colleagues called her, earned a Master of Public Health in Public Health Nursing from the University of North Carolina (UNC) in 1970. She joined UNC’s Department of Public Health Nursing as a Research Associate in 1970, moving to a similar position in the Department of Epidemiology in 1972. She remained with the Department of Epidemiology for over 40 years until her retirement in 2013.

As an epidemiologist, Sue oversaw projects in communities across the country, including textile mills and hog farms in North Carolina; U.S. Department of Energy nuclear material sites in Tennessee, New Mexico, and Washington; U.S. military academies in New York, Maryland, and Colorado; and with high school athletes who sustained potentially life-threatening injuries on sports fields in every state. Her tireless work revealed the occupational risks and impacts to these communities.

Sue also gave countless hours of labor and love to other organizations, including the Home Health Agency of Chapel Hill; Haw River Assembly; Girl Scouts of the USA; and Quilts of Valor Foundation. A volunteer extraordinaire, she donated, organized, advocated for, worked with, and served many people–near and far–with enthusiasm, dedication, and respect.

A faithful member of the St. Thomas More parish community, Sue was active with the Catholic Daughters and Respect Life ministries, including supporting teen moms and human trafficking education and outreach. She was a former member of the Parish Council, a champion of the Intercessory Prayer Team, and a teacher and mentor within the Faith Development program for many years. Her leadership, service, and commitment to the mission and work of St. Thomas More church and community are enduring.

Her true vocation was her family. To them, she was known as “Nanny,” and she will be forever remembered for puzzles and games, birds and nature appreciation, quilts and cooking, travel and curiosity, and unconditional love and forgiveness. Most wonderful of all, Nanny created a home of belonging, comfort, and much celebration.

Sue is survived by her husband; children Sara Mizelle and Gregory Wolf; grandchildren Cecelia Mizelle, Madeleine Mizelle, Crispin Wolf, and Mary Blaise Wolf; her brother John Heil (Jennifer McShane-Heil); as well as many beloved in-laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Thomas More in Chapel Hill, N.C., on March 10 at 10:30 a.m. It will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person.

In lieu of flowers, family and friends are encouraged to donate to or become a sponsor with Unbound, which Sue supported for 27 years.