Dear Editor: On Nov. 13, the diocese lost a great religious educator when Mrs. Suzanne O’Connor was called to the Father’s House to receive a well-deserved rest and reward. For almost four decades, Sue served as religious education teacher, a master teacher, director of religious education; she also served as my pastoral associate in the parish of St. Francis of Paola, Williamsburg, before moving on to Blessed Trinity parish, Breezy Point.

She was very well-known and greatly loved by countless numbers of people involved in ministry in our diocese. You just had to mention her name and people would react with a profound sense of gratitude and admiration for her work and friendship over the years.

To Sue, everyone was family; she always called me “Boss” from our days in Our Lady of Guadalupe but in many ways she was the greater one; a real inspiration to me, who taught me so much about ministry and service from the feminine point of view.

Her passing is a great personal loss to me and a great loss to the diocese. Many will remember her with gratitude. May John, her husband, her daughters, Regina and Meaghan and her grandchildren remember her with pride, and know that she will watch over them always.

Sue, you will be greatly missed!

FATHER MATTEO J. RIZZO

Tarpon Spring, Flor.