Suzanne Margaret Roth

A Sparkle. A Great Spirit. A Lover and Seeker ofBeauty. A Physical Therapist. A Tai Chi Instructor.An Advocate for People with Disabilities. An Artist. AWife, Mother, Grandmother, and Sister to 11.Suzanne was a force of goodness and compassionin the world and continues to surround us with herpowerful love and unceasing prayers.Born the second oldest of 12 children to Michaeland Lucille Ryan, Suzanne was raised in SantaBarbara, California. She adored her big IrishCatholic family and doted on her many nieces andnephews, and she also dearly loved her husband’sfour brothers and their families.Suzanne was brilliant: turning down a scholarshipfrom Cornell, she chose to accept one from theUniversity of San Francisco and studied pre?medicine. While there, she performed as a song girlas well as meeting the love of her life Robert (Bob)Roth. They eventually married on June 14, 1969, andmoved to St, Louis, Missouri, where Bob attendedmedical school and Suzanne graduated with aBachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, from St.Louis University. Suzanne and Bob relocated toSacramento, California in the early 1970s, and in1974, their daughter, Ryan, was born. Suzanneartfully balanced deeply devoted motherhood witha career in Physical Therapy that spanned over 30years.After moving to Chico in 1976, Suzanne worked inhome health, created adaptive devices for her“otherly abled” clients, and became increasinglypassionate about the rights of persons withdisabilities. In the early 1980s, Suzanne wrote andreceived a grant that allowed her to bring The Kidson the Block puppetry program into Butte Countyschools. She trained a group of volunteers in thecommunity to perform as puppeteers and broughtthese “Muppet”-sized puppets, each of whom toldstories about living with their disabilities, tothousands of school children and communitymembers. She was then hired by the State ofCalifornia to draft curricula for teaching disabilityawareness in the State’s primary schools. Duringthis time, she was a stalwart advocate for positivelegal change, testifying before the State legislaturewith parents of children with disabilities. Suzanneshifted careers in the 1990s and became a talentedvideographer and entrepreneur, with Roth VideoProductions, writing and producing gorgeousinstructional and educational videos for non-profitand commercial clients. She returned to PhysicalTherapy in the mid-1990s, working in elder care atCrestwood Care Center and North Valley Rehab.After retiring from elder care, Suzanne was a part?time Tai Chi instructor.Suzanne practiced Tai Chi for over 40 years andwas a Tai Chi instructor for more than 30. Her TaiChi students and friends were another family forher, and she showered them all with what heroriginal Tai Chi Master H.H. Lui called “Vitamin L” -LOVE. Her many Tai Chi Reunions in San Franciscowith fellow students of Mr. Lui were semi-annualhighlights in her life. In addition to engaging withmany hours of Tai Chi practice, she reveled in thedeep sharing and laughter with her friends andespecially enjoyed the talent shows. A giftedstoryteller, she would often perform dramatically,sometimes in costume, regaling the group with hertales. She also loved teaching Tai Chi classesthrough the Chico Area Recreation District andmeeting up with her “Tai Chi Buddies” at BidwellPark for weekly practices.A deeply spiritual Catholic, Suzanne was constantlyin prayer, with every step she took, with everybreath. She attended daily Mass at Our DivineSavior and Saturday evening Mass at St. John theBaptist Catholic Church, and she prayed the rosaryevery evening. Suzanne was also a communionminister to the homebound, forming deep bondswith her communicants and cherishing herprayerful time with them. She was the person to callto hear “The Prayer of St. Michael” or if you neededa miracle. Suzanne even had a special rosary, calledher “Miracle Rosary,” that she pulled out for thereally tough cases.Suzanne adored Bob, her soul mate of nearly 56years, and they had a timeless romance. The waythey always played together and gazed at oneanother, you would have thought they were eternalnewlyweds. In their younger years, they were avidgardeners, who together created a magicalparadise in their backyard. Suzanne was intenselycreative, not only in her work and her gardening,but with her mouth-watering cooking, homemaking,and stunning visual art: she surrounded her lovedones with beauty.Suzanne’s devotion as a Mother and Grandmotherwas supreme. After the birth of her first grandchild,Gloria, she drove to Modesto every week for sevenyears to spend two days helping her daughter andplaying with her granddaughter, and, in time, alsowith her grandson, Ernest. Nothing delightedSuzanne more than fully engaging in play with hergrandchildren. As she would say, there are nowords to describe how much she loved them.Suzanne was also a voracious reader and lyricalwriter. One of her great joys was sharing books sheenjoyed with friends and family and manyafternoons would find Suzanne laughing with hersisters over books they exchanged, discussing thestories endlessly. Further, in an age where it is rareto receive a handwritten note, Suzanne was afaithful pen pal to many, always sending a poeticand perfectly crafted card at the perfect time,always with wise words, love, and encouragement.Suzanne had a remarkable capacity to take joy inother people's good fortune and found beautyeverywhere: in nature, in others, in every momentpossible. She could not pass by something eye?catching without appreciating its loveliness andexclaiming enthusiastically, “Good job God!”She is survived by her husband Bob, daughter RyanRoth Gallo, and grandchildren Gloria and ErnestGallo; sisters Kathleen Petrini, Patricia Hlinka (Ken),Theresa Ryan (Chris Bush), Michele Ryan, and MairsRyan; brothers, Bob Ryan (Michelle), Tim Ryan(Danette), and Tom Ryan (Abbi), as well as brothersin-law Tom Roth (Julie), Michael Roth, Jim Roth, andBarry Roth (Nancy). She was predeceased by twobrothers, Peter and Paul, who are survived by theirwives, Susan and Paula.A Vigil (with Rosary) will be held at Brusie’s FuneralHome, 626 Broadway, in Chico, on May 27 from 6-8p.m.. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on May 28,at 11:30 a.m., at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church,416 Chestnut St., in Chico, colorful attire welcome.Private Reception to follow.Donations may be made to the Poor Clare’sMonastery, 215 E. Olivos, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105