Susan L. Fogarty's Obituary
Big Rapids - Susan Laraine Fogarty, 73, of Big Rapids, passed away suddenly but peacefully Friday, October 6, 2017, at her residence. She was born August 27, 1944, in Ludington, the daughter of James (Bill) and Veronica (Honey) (Kazmerski) Fogarty, and graduated from Muskegon Catholic Central High School in 1962. Susan earned her B.S. in Nursing from Mercy College in Detroit, her Nurse Practitioner's Certificate from Case Western University in Ohio, and her Master's Degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Upon graduating college Susan worked as a Public Health Nurse in Texas and Detroit. In the 1970s she became one of the first Nurse Practitioners in the country. She practiced Family Health in White Cloud and Baldwin for 10 years. In 1987, she moved to Big Rapids where she began teaching at Ferris State University, retiring as a professor in 2012. As a professor of nursing who specialized in community health, Susan was a pioneer in her department. She led a study-abroad program that took students to Finland, The Netherlands, and New Zealand. She was an early adopter of online instruction and distance learning techniques. A member and advisor for Sigma Theta Tau, the International Honor Society of Nursing, Susan also received numerous professional awards, including the Bertha Lee Culp Human Rights Award for her years of advocacy for the LGBTQ community. Susan loved to travel in the U.S. and internationally and had journeyed to Poland, Fiji, Sicily, the Panama Canal, and many other destinations, often forming long-lasting friendships as she went. Active in both her book club and the local foreign film club, she loved reading, art, dance, and jazz music, and volunteered regularly at Artworks in Big Rapids. Her epicurean love of eating excellent food was matched only by her love of cooking it. Her family and friends were blessed often by her gourmet meals and her beautiful handmade quilts, as well as by her smart wit, her inner strength, and her rich love for them and for life itself. Susan is survived by 2 children, Amy (Michael) Carpenter-Leugs of Grand Rapids, Peter (Dino Stoneking) Carpenter of Chicago; 3 grandchildren, Brian (Kathryn), Fisher, and Riley Leugs; 3 sisters, Cindy (Bob) Zellers of Middleton, WI, Kathy (Doug) Fogarty-Laboda of Belleville, MI , Mary James of Cross Lanes, WV; one brother, Jim (Kathy) Fogarty of Virginia Beach, VA; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Susan was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved aunt, Dorothy Tope. Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, October 15, 2017, at the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids, with the Rev. Bruce Roller officiating. Susan's family will greet friends beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions in her name may be made to Artworks, with envelopes available at the funeral home.
What’s your fondest memory of Susan?
What’s a lesson you learned from Susan?
Share a story where Susan's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Susan you’ll never forget.
How did Susan make you smile?