Susan Ritchie

Susan Marie Ritchie, age 52, of Savanna, Illinois passed away Sunday, January 9, 2011 at home. Memorials may be given in Sue's honor for the Hope Lodge in Rochester, Minnesota.
Sue was born December 31, 1958 in Savanna, the daughter of Paul and Mary (Rogers) Smiley. The oldest of four kids, she was a very independent, strong willed person. Both of these traits remained with her throughout her life. Susan graduated from Savanna High School in 1977. She forged strong friendships that stayed with her her entire life. On April 11, 1987, Susan married Joel Ritchie in Savanna. They have celebrated twenty-three years and three wonderful children, Sarah, Matthew and Samantha.Sue's ultimate goal in life was being a great Mom, wife, and grandmother. She succeeded, hands down! Being together with family made her the happiest. She loved becoming a Grandmother to her little "mug wump" Addison. Sue was passionate about teaching her family the values that she learned from her parents, "Tell it like it is", "Never give up", "Through thick and thin, and stand by family." She also enjoyed gardening, decorating their home, the outdoors, raising and riding horses with her daughter Samantha, crochetting and especially spending time with good friends. Although Sue's life became a struggle as she battled breast cancer for the last eight years, she always had a smile on her face and never let her troubles interfere with loving her family and friends. Sue is a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church of Savanna.She is loved and will be dearly missed by her husband, Joel Ritchie of Savanna; two daughters, Sarah (Luke) Schreiber of Thomson and Samantha Ritchie of Savanna; her son, Matthew Ritchie of Savanna; a granddaughter, Addison Schreiber; her mother, Mary Smiley of Savanna; a brother, Paul (Monica) Smiley of Savanna; two sisters, Laurie Smiley (Mike Bundy) of Savanna and Beth (Smiley) Phillips of Texarkana, Arkansas; and a whole bunch of loving extended family.She is preceded in death by her father, Paul Smiley, in 2007.