Suzanne Catherine (Montgomery) Obergefell

Suzanne Catherine (Montgomery) Obergefell, 90, of Mentor died March 14, 2025 at David Simpson Hospice House in Cleveland after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Suzanne was born October 11, 1934 in Louisville, Kentucky to Raymond and Louise (Schuhmann) Montgomery. She was a 1953 graduate of Presentation Academy in Louisville and went on to study Business at the University of Dayton, thanks to her older brothers who took gap years in their own courses of study in order to ensure that their younger sister was able to get a college education. It was there that she met her future husband, Ronald. Suzanne married her college sweetheart and loving husband of 61 years on December 26, 1959, and moved to the Cleveland area to start a family. After working briefly as a teacher, she left the profession to raise their nine children. In 1985, when Ronald’s entrepreneurial spirit inspired him to switch careers and introduce the first Mailboxes Etc. (later, The UPS Store) in Ohio, she joined him in his adventure and worked alongside him as he went on to become the Area Franchise Owner for Northern Ohio. Upon their retirement from the franchise, they spent several years enjoying the warmth of Florida before returning to Geneva and then Mentor to be close to family. Suzanne, a devout Catholic throughout her life, lived her faith daily. In the times when she was busy with a houseful of kids, her daily chores and responsibilities were offered as her prayers. Later, the rosary, EWTN, and the Magnificat Magazine became her prayer companions, and she always kept God and her family at the center of all that she did. Although her large family kept her endlessly busy, she also knew how to stop and enjoy the time she had to share with them, whether it was with a puzzle, an ice cream treat, or enjoying some big band dancing. She enjoyed the Cleveland Cavs and Guardians, and always rooted for the Dayton Flyers basketball team. At the holidays, she could often be found with her family gathered around the piano as she entertained with a rousing rendition of “Winter Wonderland”. Suzanne loved walking, whether it was on the Quail Hollow Golf Course, the beaches of Florida, or laps in the halls of Maplewood Senior Living in Chardon, where she most recently resided. Suzanne is survived by eight children, 26 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren, with three more on the way. They are: daughter, Louise Carter, husband Michael and children, Liesl, Ian, and Keefe Carter; daughter, Lenore Emerson, husband, John and children, Kathleen, Brenda, and Paul Emerson; daughter, Paula Liberatore, husband, John and children and grandchildren: Mary Claire (Jesse) Felts and Leo, Emilia, Jude, and Shepherd Felts; Margaret (Kwami) Adoboe and Joachim and Pascal Adoboe; Bryan (Brittany) Liberatore and Gianna and Jonah Liberatore; Matthew, Daniel, Emma, Grace, and Andrew Liberatore; daughter, Brenda Stenger, husband, Bob and children, and grandchildren: Suzanne (Bert) Wray and Bert and Reagan Wray; Kelly (Joe) Gregorc and Matthew, Emily, Noah, and Vincent Gregorc; and James (Kaitlin) Stenger and Adeline Stenger; son, Roger Obergefell, wife, Karla and children, Kevin, Jason, and Gretchen Obergefell; son, Douglas Obergefell, wife, Melissa and daughters, Anna and Thea Obergefell; son, Glenn Obergefell, wife, Susan and daughters, Molly, Rose, and Laura Obergefell; and daughter, Carla Kozlowski, husband, Jim and daughter, Raquel Kozlowski. Suzanne also leaves behind a brother, Robert “Bob” Montgomery, and many nieces, nephews, and other loving family members and friends. Besides her parents, Suzanne was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald F. Obergefell; an infant son, Bryan Joseph Obergefell; siblings, Rita Montgomery, Raymond (Barb) Montgomery, Schuhmann (Margie) Montgomery, Richard (Pat) Montgomery, Mary Lewellyn Montgomery, and Adolph “Adie” Montgomery, and in-laws Joan Montgomery, Jeanne Blacker, and Richard (Terry) Obergefell. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Thursday, March 20, 2025 at the Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor, Ohio 44060. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 21, 2025 at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 9925 Johnnycake Ridge Rd., Concord Twp., Ohio 44060. Please meet at the church. Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Suzanne to Hospice of the Western Reserve, P.O. Box 72101, Cleveland 44192, donate online at www.hospicewr.org or to Cleveland Catholic Charities, 1404 E. Ninth Street, 8th Floor, Cleveland, OH 44114. Offer condolences at www.brunners.com

Suzanne Catherine (Montgomery) Obergefell

October 11, 1934 - March 14, 2025