Susan Ann Pater

Susan Ann Sicking Pater was born on February 27, 1944, and died on April 8, 2026. She is survived by her husband, Gerry, her daughters and their husbands, Julie and Rick Sheppard, Lisa and Dave Sabourin, and Megan and Damon Halverson, and her ten grandchildren, Ryan, Jack, Charlie, and Vivian Sheppard, Mary, Ian, and Paul Sabourin, and Eli, Josie, and Gwen Halverson.

Susan was the loved daughter of Victor and Virginia Sicking. She was raised knowing she was deeply loved, and encouraged to be creative, to be independent, to be generous. She was valedictorian when she graduated from Summit Country Day High School, ending her speech with, “We can change the world, we must change the world” --she was smart, compassionate, an idealist. She went on to get degrees in Fine Arts and in Art Education at the University of Cincinnati–her talent and her desire to make the world more beautiful guiding her.

She and Gerry were married on December 27, 1966–their marriage of almost 60 years was full of travel, family game nights, soccer games, tennis matches, walks on the island and through the neighborhood, faith, and building a community of friends and family that was like no other. They packed their girls in the station wagon every summer and saw the beauty of our 50 states, and Susie and Gerry visited 92 countries, always adventurous and appreciative of the beauty of God’s world and its cultures.

Susan was a lifelong art teacher and an award-winning watercolorist, and she was honored to be a Signature Member of the Ohio Watercolor Society. She will live on through her paintings that adorn so many homes and galleries. She was a Healing Touch Practitioner, offering support and calm and healing to all who sought it. She was a room mom, a Girl Scout troop leader, a tennis coach, and a community leader. She was the very best mom–letting her daughters play and create and be who they felt called to be, supporting them through every joy and challenge of life. And Susie was the most amazing “Gramma” --spending the night when the babies were born, taking the kids to the park and to plays and on shopping sprees, cheering at every volleyball match and basketball game, traveling to Switzerland and Brazil so that her bond with the Sheppard kids would constantly strengthen despite distance. She created an individual relationship with each grandchild, making sure they knew how deeply they were known and loved.

Susan was a kind and generous friend to so many–she loved her pickleball crew and her book club, her mahjong friends, and the couples they shared bridge games and dinner parties with for a lifetime. She will be remembered with such love and gratitude by so many.

We will celebrate Susan’s life at the Visitation at the Brown Dawson Flick Funeral Home (1350 Millville Avenue in Hamilton) on Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 5 to 8pm, and at the funeral mass on Friday, April 24th, at 9:30am, at St. Peter in Chains Church (382 Liberty Avenue in Hamilton). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Badin High School, in honor of Susan Pater, to create a scholarship fund for a young artist.

We would like to thank Hospice of Cincinnati in Hamilton for their gentle and compassionate care. Our gratitude runs deep for all of the love and support that is surrounding our family as we grieve.