Susan E. Lewis, 77, died after a long illness on January 2, 2021 at a senior retirement home in Irvine. Susan was born November 15, 1943, in Los Angeles, the daughter of Kermit M. Geary and Emily Emeline (Ehret) Geary. Susan attended St. Emydius Elementary School and graduated Pius X High School in Downey, California in 1961.
In 1943, Susan was baptized at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Los Angeles. In 1955, she completed her training to Junior Catholic Daughters of America and was confirmed in 1957.
After high school, Susan entered Sisters of St. Joseph in Orange to discern a vocation to become a nun. She returned home shortly after, feeling homesick for her mother. In 1964, she received her nursing degree from Queen of Angels Hospital in Los Angeles attending school with Bing Crosby’s wife, Kathryn Grant Crosby. In 1966, Susan achieved her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The San Diego College for Women. She was a pediatric intensive care nurse for many years and shared tender moments with
Former Senator Robert and Ethel Kennedy’s son as she cared for their sick child at Georgetown Hospital in Washington D.C.
From 1967 - 1997, Susan was married to David Michael Lewis, her neighborhood sweetheart from South Gate. Together, they traveled the world through David’s enlistment with the United States Army and had many cherished memories with good friends, too numerous to count. Susan loved living in Italy, Potomac Maryland, Brandenburg Kentucky, and Augusta Georgia where she attended St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church for many years until 2016. Susan was faithful in Eucharistic adoration, Hurricane Katrina mission work, volunteer work at Catholic Social Services of St. Mary’s on the Hill under cherished friend and Director, Sister Janet Roddy. Susan also enjoyed singing with the choir and at the Vatican, was awarded the Sainthood Celebration Proclamation at the Saint john Paul II National Shrine in 2014.
Diagnosed with a progressive illness, in December, 2016, Susan returned to Southern California to live near her family. She is remembered for her unwavering trust in the Lord in the face of progressive disease, graciousness, wonderful positive attitude and sense of humor, and her gift of being truly present with people most notably those without homes and her love for children.
Susan was predeceased by her parents, Kermit Malcolm and Emily Emeline Ehret; and her brother-in-law, Robert Steuart. She is survived by her sisters Mary Joanne Steuart of Brandenburg, KY and Patricia Jane Chavana (Charles) of Tustin; her niece, Michelle Lyon (Jason) of Calimesa, CA, Great Nephews James Tate, Christian Adam and Great Niece, Brooke Ashley of Calimesa, CA.
Those who wish to remember Susan in a special way may make gifts in her memory and in memory of her aunt, Sister Mary of the Compassion:
Corpus Christi Monastery - Dominican Nuns Menlo Park
215 Oak Grove Avenue
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Donate Online — Dominican Nuns | Menlo Park (opnunsmenlo.org)
Sister Mary of the Compassion — Dominican Nuns | Menlo Park (opnunsmenlo.org)
Fairhaven Memorial Park and Mortuary, , 1702 Fairhaven Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705 has been entrusted with the inurnment at the Michelangelo Mausoleum.
We love and miss you more than words can describe, Aunt Susie – Until we meet again! “Someday we will all be together again. It will be different but it promises to be joyous!”
Well done, good and faithful servant!
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