Susann Marie Benjamin Hayes

In loving memory of Susann Marie Benjamin Hayes, beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend. Susann, aged 56, passed away on April 11, 2024, in Chapel Hill, NC.

Born on May 11, 1967, in Brooklyn, New York, Susann embodied power and grit. She dedicated 15 years of her life to guiding and inspiring others as a passionate fitness instructor; her classes were legendary as communities for growth and challenge. She never wavered in her beliefs and inspired everyone to be more authentic - there was no other way to be when it came to her. The greatest joy of her life was being married and being a mom (and reigning supreme in her family when it came to word games).

A lifelong and passionate New York Giants fan, Susann's enthusiasm for her team was infectious. Sundays in the Hayes household were characterized by her loud celebrations for touchdowns and arguments with refs. There was only one answer to the question “Are you ready for some football?”.

Susann built a life of tenacity, brilliance, devotion, and wisdom. Her greatest accomplishment, she would say to everyone, was the life she built with her true love and soulmate, Mark Hayes. To the last moment, he made her feel like that 21 year-old grad student who talked for hours on the phone with her med school boyfriend, planning their next time together - which included adventures to Jamaica, Italy, Norway, Spain, and France over the course of 33 years together. She loved this man, their journey, and the life they created together.

One of Susann’s main goals in life was to be a mother, and she was the very best to her two blessings Sarah and Sydney Hayes. Others in her treasured family include her beloved nephew, Shawn Acosta; her son-in-law, Jonathan Ortiz; and her feline companion, Malta Hayes. Susann is now hiking in the Great Beyond with her older brother, Bobby Benjamin. Maybe she has even convinced him to take up BodyPump and Pilates.

Susann Hayes is deeply loved and remembered.

In lieu of flowers or services, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made in Susann’s honor to the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund. Donations can be sent to P.O. Box 50798, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32240-0798 or made online at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/tcjf/.

Expressions of sympathy and condolences can be shared at www.donaldsonfunerals.com.

“If not now, when?

When will you be willing to go bigger, go harder, go longer for what matters?

If not now, when?" - Susann Hayes

Condolences may be made at www.donaldsonfunerals.com

Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Hayes family.