Suzanne Carroll Beeman

Suzanne Carroll Beeman of River Forest, Illinois passed from this life on February 6, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. She was born on September 5, 1933 to Edith Murray Carroll and James Patrick Carroll in Columbus, Ohio. After growing up in the Great Depression, Suzanne (known to many as Sue) lived a long, fruitful and productive life. Sue was the middle child in a family of five. She was a devoted sister to each of her siblings, cultivating relationships with their children and supporting them with their vocations and personal challenges. As a teen, her family moved to the Chicago suburb of River Forest, where Sue graduated from Trinity High School in 1951. Four years later, she earned a BA in Sociology with Honors at nearby Rosary College, now known as Dominican University.

While in high school, Suzanne met Richard Arthur Beeman, the love of her life. After a sweet courtship that lasted through high school and college, they were married September 10, 1955, days after Sue turned 22. After Richard’s military service on the West Coast, they returned to Chicagoland and settled in River Forest. The next four years brought four children, then two more, and a seventh and final child that arrived in 1969. Sue presided over a rambunctious and loving household for thirty years, and she and Dick were deeply involved in their children’s lives and their community. When her children were grown and had kids of their own, Sue became grandmother Eme. She was a devoted grandmother, dedicating countless hours to story-reading, walks, letter writing and visits with her grandchildren. She was amazing at this. Each of her grandchildren grew up with a sense that they were especially loved by and connected to their Eme. 

As important as family and home were for Suzanne, she possessed many other talents, passions and interests. She was a tireless volunteer when her children were young, serving as “Picture Lady” at Lincoln School and spending summers as Swim Team Rep for the OPCC Otters in the 1970s. In her late forties, Suzanne embarked on a varied and interesting professional career. She worked as a salesclerk in a retail boutique and then spent several years as a tour guide in the city of Chicago. Finally, she worked for nearly a decade as an administrator at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Outside of work, Sue proved to be a bold traveler and a bit of a thrill seeker. Some of her more exciting adventures involved travelling with her friend group--biking in Vermont, trekking in New Zealand and, most ambitiously, a trip through the Soviet Union in the waning days of the Cold War! Suzanne also had a fondness for the arts, music, architecture, history and culture. She had a special appreciation for the Art Institute of Chicago. Her interests in the arts and humanities live on in her children and grandchildren.

A constant throughout Suzanne’s long life was her Faith. Introduced by her family and inspired by her sister Ellen, a Dominican nun, Suzanne’s religion helped her navigate challenging circumstances with great fortitude. Baptized in Ohio, and a dedicated practitioner and member of the church choir at St. Luke’s Parish in River Forest and at Old St. Pat’s Church in Chicago, Sue’s faith buoyed her throughout her life. 

Suzanne was preceded in death by her parents James and Edith, her siblings and their spouses: Paddy (GR), Jim (Pat), Murray and Ellen. 

She is survived by her beloved husband, Richard and their children: David (Pam), Carroll Christman (Doug), Tim (Nancy), Chris (Jill), Katie Russell (Mike), Daniel (Simone), and Peter (Elaine). She was devoted to her grandchildren: Dustin, Dane, Jason, Dylan, Kerry, Christie, Connor, Cassidy, Molly, Callie, Cole, Andrew, Grace, Riley and Charlotte. She is also survived and loved by many nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren. 

The family would like to express special thanks and appreciation for the dedicated care provided to Sue during her time at Holy Cross Village and final years at the Quinn Memory Care Facility there. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2 PM on Friday, February 21 at Old St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago, Illinois.