Suzanne Marie Riley

It is with a great sense of loss that we announce the peaceful passing of Suzanne Marie Riley on June 23rd, 2026, while surrounded by family in Catonsville, MD. This sense of loss is accompanied by a sense of gratitude for the rest Suzanne is now experiencing in Heaven after a rich and vivacious 86 years on earth!

Born Suzanne Marie Cooke on December 20th, 1939, to Charles “Norm” Cooke and Helen Seeberger, she grew up in Silver Spring, MD. Suzanne, who called many places home during her lifetime, studied early childhood education at the University of Maryland before she married Richard Boyd Forde of Waco, TX and welcomed three children in Columbia, MD. The family later lived for some years in Frankfurt, Germany before returning to Columbia. Years after caring for Richard through a terminal battle with cancer, Suzanne married Sean Ewing Riley of Riverdale, MD and split her time between Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia.

Suzanne will be remembered for many things—her love of nature (all things great and small), her bright laughter, her gift of storytelling, and the way she never failed to bake a perfect pie or save a space at the table for an unexpected guest. Anyone who knew her, however, can attest to the fact that she took most seriously (and most joyfully!) her faith in Christ and deep love for her family.

Suzanne is survived by her brother, Charles “Skip” (Shirley) Cooke; children, Carolyn Marie (David) Buresh, Julie Helen Forde, and Richard Benjamin Forde; and grandchildren, Madeline Esther Buresh, Katya Nina (Derek) Wiegmann, and Olivia Rosalie Buresh, who know her fondly as Bubby.

Regardless of the role Suzanne played in one’s life, it was nearly impossible not to love her. She will be sorely missed, though we know she is laughing and singing and dancing now with the Lord and with all those who predeceased her, including her parents, her spouses, and her grandson, Matthew Barcase.

Visitation will be held at Sterling Ashton Schwab Witzke Funeral Home of Catonsville, 1630 Edmondson Ave, Catonsville, MD 21228, US, on July 1, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. (doors open at 10:30 a.m.) on Thursday, July 2nd, at Our Lady of Angels on the campus of Charlestown Senior Living in Catonsville, MD. A reception will follow. Bring a favorite memory of Suzanne to share.