Sister Susan Louise, a ‘model educator’ as principal of IHM, dies at age 69

Sister Susan Louise Eder, an Oblate Sister of St. Francis de Sales who died Oct. 13 after a long struggle with cancer, was described as an “enthusiastic, committed educator” and a model of devotion. She was 69.

Sister Susan Louise, the principal of Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Towson, was diagnosed with terminal uterine cancer shortly after accepting the IHM leadership role in 2019. She continued to work until shortly before her passing.

“It’s a very painful loss,” said Oblate Sister John Elizabeth Callaghan, who was mentored by Sister Susan Louise since entering the convent nearly 40 years ago. “She was a model of Salesian spirituality and had that gentle fidelity to her calling.”

Sister Susan Louise, a native of Elkton, entered the convent in 1972 and went on to serve in leadership roles in schools in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Delaware. 

“She had a lot of natural gifts,” Sister John Elizabeth said. “She was intelligent and a wonderful educator. However, she was also down to earth and a great collaborator. She was very committed to religious life. Morning Mass, the sacraments, receiving the Eucharist and private meditation were very important to her.”

Immaculate Heart of Mary pastor Father Jeffrey S. Dauses said Sister Susan Louise made “significant improvements” to the parish school in her five years at the helm. He said she took command when it was struggling with declining enrollment and financial difficulties.

“She really turned things around,” Father Dauses said. “She was a woman of great faith and determination. She had an incredible vision for our school and single-handedly improved enrollment and the curriculum, and improved the relationships between the parish, faculty and parents. The Holy Spirit sent her to us at the perfect time.”

Father Dauses said no one ever would have known she was terminally ill from outward appearances.

“When you asked her how she was doing, she would always say, ‘I’m fine.’ She had this attitude that a lot of people are a lot worse off than me,” he said. ”She was a person of great faith, day in and day out, no matter how she was feeling. She was a woman of great gentleness but also great strength.”

Father Dauses said Sister Susan Louise’s death is testing the emotional strength of the school community. He said the Archdiocese of Baltimore supplied counselors for students, faculty and staff as well as breakfast and lunch on the first day of classes after her death.

“The archdiocese and Office of Schools have given us a lot of support,” Father Dauses said. “We’re a preK-through-8 school, so the kids deal with the loss in different ways.”

Sister Susan Louise never let challenges get in the way of her calling, according to Sister John Elizabeth. Shortly after taking on the principal’s role at IHM, she helped guide the parish through the sudden death of Father Michael Carrion, its pastor, and then the pandemic – all while undergoing cancer treatments.

“She had an incredible determination to push through, and she was a model for all of us, especially the faculty, staff and students, on how to persevere,” Sister John Elizabeth. “She never asked to retire or even take a leave of absence because she had such a commitment.”

She leaves quite a legacy of commitment to Catholic education.

The daughter of the late James and Nancy (Beamer) Eder professed vows as an Oblate Sister of St. Francis de Sales in 1974. Her ministry as a teacher and administrator included work at Mount Aviat Academy (Childs), St. Anthony of Padua (Wilmington, Del.) and St. Bernadette School (Drexel Hill, Pa.).

In 1998, Sister Susan Louise, who held a master’s degree from the University of Delaware, was the founding principal of Holy Cross Academy in Fredericksburg, Va. She helped the elementary school earn accreditation and a National Blue Ribbon award. 

Sister Susan Louise was an active member of the North American Salesian Network and a frequent presenter, mentor and author on Salesian spirituality. 

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by sister, Elizabeth; brother, Phillip; and stepmother, Margie. She is survived by brother Rusty (Joan) and sisters, Sister Anne Elizabeth, O.S.F.S.; Sister Frances Carol, O.S.F.S.; and Judy Pinder (Terry). She also is survived by many nieces and nephews as well as many cousins and great nieces and nephews.

A viewing is scheduled for Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Oct. 20 starting at 10 a.m. with a funeral Mass at noon. A lunch reception will follow in the school gym.

On Oct. 21, a memorial Mass is planned at the O.S.F.S. convent in Childs, Md., with interment to follow onsite in the Oblate Sisters’ Cemetery. 

Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@catholicreview.org

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