Celebrating the Life of Kathleen “Sue” Ross

Kathleen Susan Ross, “Sue” to everyone who loved her, was born in Glendale, California, and stepped into eternity on Friday, May 8, at the age of 78. To know Sue was to be welcomed, encouraged, and loved. She was beautiful inside and out, and her life was a quiet, steady testament to faith, hope, and selfless love.

Sue was a devoted wife and a loving mother of four. She poured her heart into her home and family, finding joy in the simple, everyday moments. She loved being there when her children came home from school, ready to listen, comfort, and celebrate their victories, big and small. For a season, she also worked as a teacher while her children were in school, so she could be with them during the day and still greet them at home in the afternoons. She also worked at the Childcare Center at Mercy Medical Center for 13 years. Her greatest calling, and greatest joy, was raising her children and watching her family grow.

That love only multiplied with each new generation. Sue was blessed with 22 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, each one cherished. Family wasn’t just important to her, it was central to who she was.

But Sue’s sense of family went beyond blood. She had a way of making room in her life and at her table for anyone who needed it. On holidays, there was almost always an extra place setting ready for someone with nowhere else to go. She welcomed the lonely, the overlooked, and the hurting, quietly living out her belief that everyone deserves to be seen and loved.

Service to others was woven throughout Sue’s life. She brought meals, care, and companionship to elderly neighbors, shut-ins, and individuals with special needs. She didn’t just drop things off; she sat, listened, and made people feel valued. Even when people were difficult or disappointing… people many would have walked away from… Sue stayed. She was steadfast in the hardest seasons, standing by others through their worst moments and never giving up on them.

Sue knew hardship and times of financial struggle, but she refused to let those seasons define her. Even in poverty or uncertainty, she remained remarkably positive and hopeful. Her optimism wasn’t naive; it was a choice she made again and again, rooted in her deep faith.

That faith in God was the foundation of her life. Sue’s relationship with Jesus shaped the way she loved and served. She didn’t just talk about her beliefs, she embodied them, striving daily to love people the way Jesus did: with kindness, patience, and grace. She honored her parents faithfully, traveling across the country by Amtrak in their later years to care for them and spend precious time with them.

Words that best describe Sue are: selfless, steadfast, optimistic, faithful, and hopeful. She did not seek recognition or applause, yet the impact of her life can be seen in the generations she nurtured, the friends she encouraged, and the many lives she quietly touched.

Sue’s family and friends grieve her loss deeply, yet they also celebrate the gift of her life and the assurance that her faith is now fulfilled. Her love, example, and gentle strength will continue to live on in all who were blessed to know her.

You are invited to share your memories, stories, and photos of Sue here so that her legacy of love can continue to be remembered and celebrated.

in Lieu of flowers, Family asks that all donations be made to the Grace Church . Link is provided below.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://gracechurchdurango.com/give/__;!!B209rIdvvA!aOmWFvYLxj4Asvuu1E6_DJY9PwiXOe2w5Y--mjTXmXZGh88ebd0Hp4cyY6Upr-6GXdWhohgwFaU47t2evqU9APqysHfx$