A memorial Mass for Sister Suzanne Wesley (Sister Joan Raymond), CSJ, was celebrated June 20 in the Holy Family Chapel at the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Motherhouse in St. Louis. Sister Suzanne died June 6 in St. Louis. She was 79.
She was born on June 8, 1944, in Sheridan, Wyoming, to parents Norman R. and Joan Rachel (Brunsell) Wesley. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1962 and was received into the novitiate in 1963 as Sister Joan Raymond. She received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Saint Louis University in 1969 and master’s degree in public health from Saint Louis University in 1981. Sister Suzanne began serving as a licensed nursing home administrator in 1982.
Sister Suzanne began her 50 years of service in health care at St. Joseph Hospital in Kirkwood in 1969 as a staff nurse. She was head nurse/supervisor at St. Joseph Hospital–Center for Life in Augusta, Georgia, from 1969-72. Returning to St. Louis, she served both as a staff nurse at Cardinal Ritter Institute and a nurse educator at Nazareth Living Center in Oakville. In 1975, she held the position of health maintenance director at Cardinal Ritter Institute. In 1982, she served as the assistant administrator and director of nursing for Tower Village Nursing Care Center.
She returned to St. Joseph Hospital for 14 years, serving as administrative resident, home care/hospice director, assistant vice-president, vice-president and clinical vice-president. In 1997, Sister Suzanne began as executive director at Cardinal Carberry Senior Living Center. From 2002-17, she served as the chief executive officer at Cardinal Ritter Senior Services. Sister Suzanne was a member of the St. Louis Province Leadership Team from 2008-14. She retired in 2018.
Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery.
