Suzanne Blouin

SUZANNE DIERS BLOUIN

Dubuque

7/22/1945 - 3/14/2016

Suzanne Diers Blouin died March 14, 2016, in Naples, Fla., succumbing to Alzheimer's disease.

Suzanne was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on July 22, 1945, to John and Helen Diers. She graduated from St. Joseph's Academy in 1963 and from Clarke University in Dubuque in 1967 with degrees in math and computer science. She served 25 years on the Clarke board of trustees and received a Presidential Award for her service. Suzanne married Mike Blouin in 1967 and the two made their home in Dubuque, where Suzanne taught at Hempstead High School until the birth of the couple's twin daughters in 1969.

Suzanne served as a legislative assistant in Mike's state legislative office and would go on to assist him in his campaigns for Congress. In 1980, Suzanne was charged with helping to organize the new U.S. Department of Education, and was recognized for her substantial contribution to the improvement of education in the United States.

After moving to Cedar Rapids in 1981, Suzanne worked as business manager of Hawkeye Area Community Action Agency for 16 years. While in Cedar Rapids, she also was very engaged at All Saints Catholic Parish and coordinated the baptism and RCIA programs.

She was committed to social justice throughout her life. Suzanne loved learning and took graduate courses at Loras College toward a master's in theology. Suzanne then spent seven years with the governor's office, serving the last four as director of appointments to boards and commissions.

In 2007, Suzanne and Mike returned to Dubuque, where she became parish administrator of St. Mary's and St. Patrick's Catholic churches until her illness began to interfere with her memory.

In 2011, Suzanne and Mike retired to Naples, Fla. For the last three years of her life she was cared for and resided at the Arden Court Assisted Living facility for memory impaired in Naples. Her family is very grateful for their loving and caring service. The family also is grateful for the loving care and service of AVOW Hospice over the last several months of her life.

Suzanne is survived by her husband, Mike; her daughters and their husbands, Lisa and Rick Sanborn and Amy Blouin and Joe Squillace; her grandchildren, Noah Blouin-Weers and Christian Blouin-Weers and his partner, Sydney Probst; and her great-grandson, Matthew Blouin-Weers. She also leaves her loving siblings, Sonna and Bill Struyf, Alan and Joyce Diers, Jackie and Raleigh Kean, Judi and Art Kelly and Patricia and Jim Carlucci. She loved her many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews and was a dear friend to many.

Celebration of Life will be at Church of the Resurrection Catholic Parish in Dubuque at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 2. Visitation also will be at the church from 2 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 1, with the wake service at 7 p.m., and from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome donations in Suzanne's name to Clarke University, 1550 Clarke Dr., Dubuque, IA 52001; Alzheimer's Support Network, 660 Ninth St. N., Naples, FL 34102; and AVOW Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, FL 34105.

The Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 John F. Kennedy Rd., Dubuque, IA 52002, is assisting the family.