On July 21, Susan Marie Flappan (née Price) left this world peacefully at the age of 68, surrounded by the love of her family.
She was the beloved wife of Bob Flappan for nearly 42 years; the proud mother of Michael and Daniel Flappan; the caring mother-in-law of Rachel Flappan; the dear sister of Barbara Abramovitz; the cherished niece of Bob Boxer; the beloved daughter-in-law and sister-in-law of the entire Flappan family; and the adored aunt, cousin and friend of many.
Susan was born on Feb. 16, 1955, to Sam and Jean Price, who preceded her in death. She developed a close bond with her mother’s brother, “Uncle Bob,” who became a father figure for her after losing her parents when she was in college.
She married Bob Flappan on Sept. 20, 1981, on a balmy autumn day that symbolized their harmonious and grateful relationship. They had two sons, Michael and Daniel, who were the joy of her life. She had a special place in her heart for her schnoodle, Rusty, and her other dogs. She was a wonderful cook and loved trying new recipes she would find on Pinterest. She lovingly hosted countless family dinners. Her salads were simply amazing and loved by everyone that tried them.
Susan had a brilliant mind and a compassionate heart. She pursued higher education in medical technology at Northwestern University and earned a master’s degree in industrial hygiene at UCM. She dedicated her career to improving the health and wellbeing of others through science. She worked at Children’s Mercy in the allergy department and authored a seminal study on the health effects of mold that changed the world’s understanding of this issue. She also created her own business, Moldetect, and developed a mold test kit that empowered people to identify and solve mold problems in their own environments. She was featured on Dateline NBC and the front page of the Kansas City Star for her innovative work and helpful tips on mold prevention and treatment.
Susan loved to travel and explore new places. After retiring in 2018, she fulfilled her surprising dream of buying an RV and traveling the USA with Bob and their dogs. They visited many beautiful destinations and enjoyed spending time with their relatives across the country. Susan also cherished her connection to Israel, where she spent a year working and discovering after college. She was delighted to meet a branch of relatives who had survived the Holocaust when she returned to Israel in 2012.
Susan was a kind, gentle, generous, humble and adventurous woman who touched many lives with her smile, beauty, warmth, wisdom and compassion. We are eternally grateful for the short time we had with her. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew her.
A funeral service was held on July 26, 2023, at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City MO, 64131. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to KU Medical Center, Promise KC Hospital or Hospice House of Kansas City.
Please visit MtMoriah.net for more information and to leave condolences.