Susanne was born March 28, 1936, to Ralph and Teresa (Driscoll) Sullivan in Fairmont, Minn. She married Jack Tillia in Guckeen, Minn. on Nov. 12, 1955. Susanne was a beloved mother to Joan Tillia of Peoria Ill.; Mary Stroyan (Steve) of Zwingle, Iowa; Robert Tillia of Peoria, Ill.; Ann Rivers of Washington State; Sharon McCollom (Mike) of Denton, Texas; Dan Tillia of Peoria, Ill.; Scott (Marla) Boyer of Mendon, Utah; and her granddaughter, Tess Gooding (Austin) of San Angelo, Texas. Susanne was a wonderful grandma to Jeny Meyer (Stroyan) of Zwingle, Iowa, Josh Stroyan (Ashley) of Maquoketa, Iowa, A.J. McCollom of Denton, Texas, Tess Gooding (Austin) of San Angelo, Texas; and Jon Stroyan of Ames, Iowa, and will be greatly missed by her great-grandchildren, Rowan and Cormac Meyer; Jacob, Emma, Jamesen, and Eva Stroyan; and Owen, Ezra, and Anastasia Gooding. She was proceeded in death by her brother, Ray and his wife, Judy; sister-in-law, Terri, wife of Phil; sister-in-law, Judy, wife of Tom; and Carol Karlen, special friend of Paul. Susanne was happiest when spending time with her family and loved ones, especially her special friend, Frank Boyer. She was fond of traveling with her sister, Mary Margaret Sullivan; spending time laughing with her brother Tom Sullivan when on the family farm; sharing her love of reading with her brother Ray Sullivan; traveling overseas to visit her brother Phil Sullivan; and bird watching with her brother Paul Sullivan. Susanne always enjoyed spending holidays and family gathering with her many nieces and nephews and their children. When she was not spending time with her family, she gathered with her friends for birthday and book clubs, daily mass with coffee to follow and listening to classical music. She graduated in 1954 from Our Lady of Good Council in Mankato, Minn. She continued her education at Black Hawk College in Moline, Ill., where she earned her associate’s degree in English and Business Writing. She wore many hats in her career such as authoring numerous articles for the Rock Island Argus, Moline Dispatch and the Aledo Times. Susanne dedicated 35 years to mentoring, caring for, and tending to the children of Andalusia, Reynolds, and Taylor Ridge elementary schools within the Rockridge School District. She was most proud of being a teacher’s aide at Hawthorn-Irving Elementary. When she was not working she volunteered teaching CCD at St. Patrick and Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults at St. Joseph. She was a member of St. Patrick’s and St. Joseph’s parishes in the Quad Cities and St. Thomas Parish in Peoria. She was resilient, humble, selfless and kind. Susanne was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by all.

Funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, May 12, 2022, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 17486 Bellevue-Cascade Rd in Zwingle, Iowa, with visitation one hour prior. Fr. Austin will officiate and burial will follow at St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to School Sisters of Notre Dame, 170 Good Council Dr., Mankato, MN 56001-3138, Attn: Sister Linda Wanner.

Friends and family may sign the online guestbook by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com.

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