Sister Mary Lucy ND 5044 PDF Download
Mary Catherine SUTER
Immaculate Conception Province, USA
Date and Place of Birth: August 15, 1940 Toledo, Ohio
Date and Place of Profession: August 16, 1961 Toledo, Ohio
Date and Place of Death: December 21, 2025 Sylvania, Ohio
Date and Place of Funeral: December 31, 2025 Whitehouse, Ohio
O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.
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 the fourth child of six girls to her parents Clarence and Catherine (Kruger) Suter. Mary attended Blessed Sacrament School in Toledo, Ohio during her elementary years and attended Central Catholic School for high school where she met the Sisters of Notre Dame. After graduation she entered the Sisters of Notre Dame and received the name Sister Mary Lucy in August 1959. Sister attended Mary Manse College and became an elementary teacher who especially loved instructing children with special needs.
Sister Mary Lucy began her teaching career in 1962 and spent 30 years as an educator of primary students at several schools in Ohio, Michigan, and Florida. Her ministry evolved in 1991 as she became a caregiver at Maria Child Care (now Maria Early Learning Center) and an aide at Mary Immaculate School and several area schools and parishes until 2017.
Although Sister was a reserved person, she had an adventurous spirit, a sense of humor, and a love of truth and beauty. Sister was able to see beauty all around her and she produced many artistic pieces. Sister Mary Lucy was a seeker of truth in the books she read but she only touched, “historically correct novels and/or accurate biographies.” She enjoyed community celebrations – especially those which “demonstrated the unity of the Sisters and/or the customs of their countries.” She enjoyed community songs, but mostly “those that exemplified the qualities that captured the Sisters’ spirit.”
With declining health, she became a resident at Rosary Care Center in Sylvania, Ohio in 2020. These were years of suffering for Sister. Her deep devotion to Mother Mary sustained her as did her attraction to St. Francis of Assisi and his love for all of creation as well as his simple lifestyle. Simplicity was her underlying virtue for she loved simple clothing, simple food, and simple lifestyles.
As the evening hours of December 21 approached, so did Sister Mary Lucy’s Bridegroom; just a simple last breath, just the limitless joy and beauty God prepared for his chosen one.
May she rest in His infinite peace and truth.
