Mary "Sister Mary Lucy" Suter, SND

SISTER MARY LUCY SUTER, S.N.D.

Every person's death is accompanied by mystery and miracle, darkness and light. Nature itself revealed this when Sister Mary Lucy Suter died on December 21, the winter solstice. As Sister awakened in heaven, the Church prayed "O Radiant Dawn." What splendor greeted Sister after 85 years of earthly life including almost 65 years in her religious community. Nature's light grew stronger for Sister Mary Lucy whose name means "light." The truth of Sister's life can be found in her life of faith and joyful simplicity as she relied on God to work through her.

Mary Catherine was born on August 15, 1940, to her parents Clarence and Catherine (Kruger) Suter. She was one of six girls, two who died in infancy. She attended Blessed Sacrament School. After graduating from Central Catholic in Toledo, she entered the Sisters of Notre Dame and received the name Sister Mary Lucy in August 1959. After attending Mary Manse College, she became a primary teacher who especially loved instructing children with special needs. She began her teaching career in 1962 at Immaculate Conception in Bellevue and spent 30 years in primary grades at several schools in Ohio, Michigan, and Florida: Gesu and St. Michael, Toledo; Immaculate Conception, Bellevue; St. Joseph, Maumee; Immaculate Conception, Marygrove; St. John, Delphos; St. Augustine, Napoleon; St. Wendelin, Fostoria; St. Paul, Norwalk; Sacred Heart, Fremont; St. Mary, Leipsic; St. Anthony, Temperance, Michigan; and Holy Rosary, Jacksonville, Florida.

Her ministry evolved in 1991as she became a caregiver at Maria Child Care (now Maria Early Learning Center) and an aide at Mary Immaculate School and St. Patrick Heatherdowns in Toledo. From 2007-2010 she continued outreach and tutoring while in Delphos, Ohio. From 2012-2017 she volunteered at Queen of Apostles School, Toledo as librarian and tutor. With declining health, she became a resident at Rosary Care Center in Sylvania, Ohio in 2020.

Although Sister was a reserved person, she had an adventurous spirit, sense of humor, and readiness to debate. Sister was able to see beauty all around her. Her artistic bent drew her to enroll in various art classes.

Preceding her in death were her parents and siblings Marilyn and Margaret (both dying in infancy), Noralyn Hill, and Joan Tifft. She is survived by one sister Ruth Romak Browning. She will be greatly missed by the Sisters of Notre Dame along with her family of seven nieces, four nephews, 13 great nieces, 7 great nephews, 12 great-great-nieces, and 10 great-great-nephews.

The Funeral Services will be on Wednesday, December 31, at the Sisters of Notre Dame Center, 5900 Davis Road, Whitehouse, Ohio with Sharing of Memories at 9:30 a.m. and the funeral Mass beginning at 11:00 a.m. Arrangements are entrusted to the Urbanski Funeral Home, A Life Celebration Home, 5055 Secor Road, Toledo. Tributes may be made to the Sisters of Notre Dame at 1656 Henthorne Drive, Suite 200, Maumee, OH 43537.