Susan Margaret Fagan (nee Reuter) was born in Pittsburgh, PA on July 20, 1943 and died of pancreatic cancer on June 19, 2025 in Memphis, TN at age 81. Her parents were Margaret (nee Burns) and Henry Reuter, both deceased. She endured a courageous battle with her pancreatic cancer and previous breast cancer though always kept her contagious smile. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Thomas, and their 3 children, Shannon, Lance (spouse Kelley L. Smith), and Colleen (spouse Jon Carlson), her cousin Audrey Wahl and stepbrother Robbie Reuter. She was predeceased by her sister Patricia Posti, and her stepmother Lois Reuter.
A graduate of Kent State University she worked as a social worker in Akron, OH and Macomb, IL before moving to Memphis, TN in 1976. Many good things will be remembered of her 49 years in Memphis: she taught in Evergreen Church Mother’s Day Out Program and Idlewild Presbyterian Church’s preschool program; and worked for Rhodes College bookstore. She also volunteered with newsletter advertising for the Vollintine-Evergreen Community Association (The Evergreen News). In her neighborhood (Rainbow Circle), she organized an email and residential directory that helped to reduce crime and encourage strong community relationships. She was a graduate of the MPD Citizen’s Police Academy. For several years she organized Life Blood donations and was a Eucharistic Minister for the St. Theresa Little Flower Parish.
Her social work received commendations from the State of Illinois and she received awards from local Memphis groups. She was recognized by her husband as an outstanding mother of their children and supporter of his and their successful careers. She was a passionate and dedicated preschool teacher, helping to tailor lessons to each individual and always identifying and encouraging a child’s strengths, despite any challenges, always believing in each child’s potential. She exuded curiosity and wonder that captured her students’ attention and inspired their creativity.
Susan loved to work in her yard and flower gardens no matter the summer heat. She looked for the good in everyone she met and was always willing to lend a helping hand or compassionate ear. She loved to connect with others and helped others with never a thought of what others would do for her. She loved to laugh and make others laugh. She enjoyed traveling and family reunions, St. Patrick’s Day gatherings, and most recently frequent visits to The Main Street Inn and the historic community of Ste. Genevieve, MO. She loved joining friends for breakfast at her neighborhood café on Wednesday mornings, gathering for tai chi in Overton Park, listening to John Denver and Bob Dylan, requesting songs at her favorite piano bar, and dancing and singing to Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons. She made friends wherever she went and looked forward to dinner with her husband and friends at one of her favorite establishments every Saturday evening. She found strength, hope and comfort in her connections with her family and friends which undoubtedly inspired her courage and persistence in facing the long journey of her disease.
She was a communicant of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and could be found with her family each Saturday at the 5:00pm Mass. Services will be managed by Canale Funeral Directors of Memphis and include visitation at the Canale location at 2700 Union Avenue Extended on Monday, July 28, 2025, 5:00-7:00pm; a funeral Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 1669 Central Avenue, on Tuesday July 29, 2025 at 10:00am followed by a reception at the church and a private interment later at St. Peter Catholic Church Columbarium.
The family expresses sincere thanks to the doctors and staff of the West Cancer Center (Germantown and Midtown) and encourages donations instead of flowers to the West Cancer Center, the Kosten Foundation which supports research on pancreatic cancer, and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
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