†Sister Susan Ridley, OP

“My dream or fantasy is that someday God’s kingdom of justice and peace will be more evident on Earth, and we will contribute to make this dream a reality.”

This quote perfectly captures Sister Susan’s life mission. As she put it herself, “In all my ministries, charity and justice have been the core of my being.”

Susan was born in Grand Rapids on September 14, 1938, the younger daughter of Howell and Gladys Boylan Ridley. She had one sister, Joan, and a brother, Howell, affectionately known as “Buster.”

From kindergarten through college, Susan was educated, inspired, and challenged by the Grand Rapids Dominicans. She attended Marywood Academy for both elementary and high school, later earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Aquinas College. It was no surprise when, in 1956, she entered the Dominican congregation, taking the name Sister Marie Pius at her reception.

Sister Susan’s classmates remember her for her insistence that each and every classmate was remembered on her birthday, and she made sure all had a list of birth dates for each member. Since her classmates are now living at Marywood, they have continued to get together for birthdays and remember Susan for her ready smile and eagerness to engage in conversations.

Sister Susan’s first ministry was teaching, serving in schools across Michigan—including South Haven, Dearborn Heights, Mt. Pleasant and Catholic Central Grand Rapids as well as in Santa Cruz, New Mexico. She was a principal and teacher at St. Boniface in Bay City, and a principal in Alpena. During summers, she worked part-time as a liturgist and occasionally as a nurse’s aide.

In 1972, her focus shifted toward religious education and pastoral ministry. For the next decade, she served in the Traverse City area and later at St. Alphonsus Parish in Grand Rapids. In 1984, she became the coordinator of Parish Social Action in Akron, Ohio—a role that aligned with her deep commitment to human rights advocacy. After three years in Ohio, she spent 25 years as the Director of Christian Services for the Diocese of Kalamazoo, where she launched the Charity and Justice newsletter and supported numerous parish social justice initiatives.

Sister Susan had a compassionate heart for those in poverty, but she also recognized and fought against the systemic issues that perpetuated it. In 1972, she attended the first assembly of 47 Catholic Sisters who gathered in Washington D.C. to light the spark that became the Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice. As Diocesan Director of Christian Services, she played a key role in Project Rachel, Respect Life, the Heating Assistance Program, and various grant initiatives supporting Black and Indigenous evangelization and Hispanic migrant ministry. She also oversaw Jail and Prison Ministries and coordinated diocesan and national collections for disaster relief.

After a sabbatical in 2012, she returned to Marywood, assisting in the mailroom, providing transportation, and advocating for those in need of hearing aids.

A lifelong learner, Sister Susan eagerly attended workshops and conferences, including the Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia, the Pentecostal Peace March in Washington, D.C., and a Jubilee Pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, and Florence.

Among her final written reflections, she shared these words in a 2016 email:
“At this challenging time, both our country and our world are so divided. People need to be more merciful, more kind, and committed to working for the common good. Let us be that way ourselves and help others do the same.”

For relaxation, Sister Susan enjoyed biking, tennis, cross-country skiing, and singing in the choir—always embracing life with joy and enthusiasm.

Sister Susan is survived by her sister-in-law Kay, nieces Amber (Steve) Biser, Tracey (Lou) Maranto, nephew Craig (Rachel) Ridley, cousins, many friends, and members of her Dominican Community.