Jeanne Hagerty Susalla

Jeanne Hagerty Susalla, age 92, of Fox Run in Novi passed away on February 1, 2024. Jeanne was smart, outgoing, caring, and fun. Born to Leonard and Regina (Ryan) Hagerty April 8, 1931 in her family’s home in Royal Oak, MI, Jeanne had two older siblings and a younger sister. Jeanne’s nicknames were “Jeannie” and “Red” (due to her red hair). She won first place in a 3rd grade reading contest, attending St. Mary’s in Royal Oak, where she was a cheerleader and lettered in basketball. With a bowling alley and ping pong tables in the basement, Jeanne was a competitive player during lunch hours, graduating in 1949. Jeanne attended University of Detroit in the Secretary Science program and was a member of Phi Gamma Alpha sorority, where she made life-long friends. After 11 years part-time at OCC she earned her Associate’s Degree in Applied Science-Mental Health. Jeanne graduated from Marygrove College in Detroit in 1986 (at age 55) with a BA in Social Services (and minors in psychology and social work). She was honored for leadership and service on and off campus and became certified in MI as a social worker. Jeanne met David E. Susalla at a St. Mary’s dance, and carried white roses down the aisle when they married on August, 27, 1955. They were soulmates for 66 years of marriage, raising their family together, and beginning in 1970, Jeanne and Dave were a foster family with Catholic Social Services. Jeanne liked to say they spoiled 36 lucky foster children (4 preschoolers and the rest newborns). Jeanne and Dave were members of Guardian Angels, Clawson, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Beverly Hills, and Holy Family, Novi. Jeanne handled crisis counseling calls and mental health commitments at Common Ground for 35 years, working full-time nights (3 on/3 off) for 14 years, then part-time, retiring at age 86. Jeanne liked helping people--her advice to new employees was to be a good listener. As a trained volunteer with OCCRO (Oakland County Crisis Response Organization), Jeanne counselled first responders. Her most memorable crisis intervention was Royal Oak’s postal tragedy in 1991. At one point Jeanne started “Pet Loss Counseling” to utilize her professional experience helping pet lovers. She was also a communion minister (volunteering & doing scheduling) for St. John Oakland Hospital for many years. Although she was afraid of flying, Jeanne enjoyed travelling, particularly a trip to Ireland where she kissed the Blarney Stone. She and Dave visited England, Canada, the Caribbean, Florida, and Montana (by train), but her favorite trips were her and Dave’s annual spring stays on Jekyll Island, Georgia, where not surprisingly, Jeanne befriended neighbors, shop owners, and folks at mass. Jeanne always liked to do laundry. She disliked cooking and enjoyed meals out with friends, family, and her sisters. Over the years she enjoyed sewing and quilting, drives around town with Dave, reading, and especially shopping for her 3 granddaughters and later her two great grands. She loved watching Shark Tank, Jeopardy (answering questions before the buzzer), and World News with David Muir. Family get-togethers were important to Jeanne, as was keeping in touch with her many friends via calls, emails, and texts. Jeanne will be missed by her children Douglas Susalla, Janis Susalla Foley (Chris Foley), and Jay Susalla (Cindy Lewis Susalla); granddaughters Shaylen Susalla Foley (Kyle Compton), Eliza Jeanne Foley (Eric Szymanski), and Natasha Lee Foley; great-granddaughter Portia Joy Foley-Compton and great-grandson Kilian Szymanski; her sister Joan McCabe; and many nieces, nephews, extended family, and Dave’s family. Jeanne joins Dave in heaven, along with sister Shirley Handley, brother Leonard Jr., and many friends and relatives. Family thanks the staff at Fox Run Medical Clinic, Ascension Providence Hospital, and Fox Run Continuing Care for their kindness to Jeanne these past few months. Jeanne enjoyed engaging staff, typically asking them where they got their education or how their children were doing. Visitation is Monday, February 12, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Catholic Church of the Holy Family, 24505 Meadowbrook, Novi, MI with mass at 10:30 a.m. Private burial at Oakview Cemetary, Royal Oak. Donations in Jeanne’s memory may be made to Capuchin Soup Kitchen, 1820 Mount Elliott St., Detroit, MI 48207 (cskdetroit.org).

Jeanne Hagerty Susalla

April 8, 1931 - February 1, 2024