Sussman-Laabs

Mary Jane Sussman, 87, passed peacefully from this world on September 18, 2013. Mary was born on April 29, 1926, to Julius and Olga Hausmann. She graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree from the University of Toledo's School of Education in 1949. She worked from the age of 12 in a produce market, book bindery, and television tube assembly plant to pay for her education. She and Art married on August 12, 1949. Mary was a member of Little Flower Catholic Church since 1947, where she served on the Parish Council and was a teaching assistant and Girl Scout leader for many years. After being a stay-at-home mom while her daughters were young, she worked at the J.L. Hudson department store from its opening until she retired in 1986. She was an avid gardener and member of the Ottawa Plains Garden Club, serving in several offices, including as their president, until the club disbanded. Mary enjoyed bridge and flying with her husband, traveling coast to coast in light planes with Art.

She is survived by Arthur P. Sussman, her husband of 64 years, and daughters, Pamela O'Rourke, and Deborah (Jerald) Geppert, both of Richmond, Virginia. She was predeceased by her brother, George, and sisters, Margaret Cleveland, and Sharon Slosser.

The family will welcome visitors on Sunday, September 22, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Thomas I. Wisniewski Funeral Home, 2426 N. Reynolds Rd. with scripture service at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Monday, September 23, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. in Little Flower Catholic Church, Dorr Street and Olimphia Rd., where family and friends will gather beginning at 10:00 a.m. Entombment at Lumen Christi Mausoleum Resurrection Cemetery.

The family wishes to express its gratitude to the kind folks at Sunset House and Ashanti Hospice for their care and consideration which made Mary Jane's last days dignified and comfortable.

In lieu of flowers, please express sympathy by a contribution to the Little Flower Church Building Fund or the Little Sisters of the Poor, Toledo, Ohio. Published in Toledo Blade on September 20, 2013