Monna Jeanne Suess

Monna Jeanne Suess (née Campbell) passed into the arms of God in Cincinnati, OH on April 30, 2023. She was 85 years old. Monna was born on January 18, 1938 in Evansville, IN to Robert Alexander Campbell and Jeanette Sophia (Kissel) Campbell. Along with her older brothers Ronald William and Robert Joseph, she grew up surrounded by many aunts, uncles, and a great many cousins and relatives. She knew them all, and enjoyed countless adventures with them. Monna graduated from Memorial High School and enrolled in St. Mary´s School of Nursing. She became a Registered Nurse, beginning her lifelong calling of caring for others. In 1959 she met Edward Suess and they were married on May 7th, 1960 in Evansville. They moved to Indianapolis, IN, where they had three children; Eric, Elaine, and Doug. Eventually, Monna stayed home as a full-time mom. Ed´s job took the family to Royal Oak, MI in 1969 and Grand Blanc, MI in 1976, where they lived until 2022. Monna was very involved in her children’s school activities and at church. She trained lectors for many years, and developed a unique ministry of bringing ceramic doves planted with ivy to parish families who had lost a loved one.

Monna’s life was marked by her love of family and friends, her strong faith, her keen intellect, her sense of humor, her faith, her love of music and her positive impact on so many. One of the many things that stood out about Monna was her selfless care for others. She made time for others, and made them feel special. She began working as a nurse at The Michigan School for the Deaf and Blind starting in 1983. She learned sign language and worked there for ten years. Her lifelong commitment to keeping in touch with friends and family was one of the joys of her life. She was a wonderful cook, and her applesauce coffee cakes were distributed by the dozens to friends every Christmas. She loved playing bridge and other card and board games. Her mother was a gifted musician, and Monna was fortunate to have inherited this same gift. In 2022, as Ed’s health declined, he moved to Cincinnati to be cared for by Elaine and her wife Janet. Monna joined him in Cincinnati shortly before he passed away in November. While in Cincinnati, she loved to go on rides throughout the many neighborhoods, enjoying the city’s beautiful architecture and hilly landscapes, and… the Dairy Queen. As Monna battled her own illness, she did so with great faith and fortitude, taking one day at time. Monna is survived by her children, Eric (Karen) of Pocatello, ID, Elaine (Janet) of Cincinnati, OH, and Doug (Ginger) of Grand Rapids, MI; grandchildren Sarah (Scott) Ransom, Aaron, Drew, and Darby.

Visitation will be held at Hill Funeral Home in Grand Blanc on Wednesday May 24th at 4:30pm. A funeral Mass will be held Thursday May 25th at 10:00 am, with family sharing beginning at 9:45 at Holy Family Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The service will be live streamed via Holy Family at https://www.youtube.com/@holyfamilyparish538/featured. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Monna’s name to Hospice of Cincinnati at 4360 Cooper Rd, Cincinnati OH 45242, or online at https://hospiceofcincinnati.org/donate/.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hillfh.com for the Suess family.