Suzanne Margaret Kelley Badyna, 92 years, of Temperance, MI went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. She was surrounded by her loving husband, Dale, her six children and other loved ones.
Sue was born at home in Erie, MI on April 4, 1933. She was a bright light in the bleak times of the depression. She was the first grandchild on her father’s side, so she was much loved.
Her parents were Harold Edward and Dorothy Elizabeth (McCarty) Kelley. She had a brother, Bill and sister-in-law, Mary Ann Steinbauer Kelley who preceded her in death.
Sue is survived by her loving husband, Dale; six children, Mary Badyna, Margaret (Keith) Kaighin, Tom, Kelly (Al) Jewell, Paul, and Barbara; sister, Kitty (Michael) Metzger of Marietta, Georgia; six grandchildren, Sarah (Matt) Boeding, Kristi (Garrett) White, Kelly (Andy) Viertlbeck, Keith Kaighen, Jr., Ryan (Lacie) Jewell, and Christopher Jewell (Candyce); 13 great-grandchildren, Jaelyn, Kinsley, and Alex Viertlbeck, Tristan, Wesley, and Lydia Boeding, Ella, Ashley, Kate, and Everett White, Emmerson, Benette, and Vincent Jewell, and nieces and nephews.
Sue and her husband, Dale were married for seventy years and started dating when they were seventeen, five years before their marriage.
Love of learning and sports were two of her passions. She was always a leader at St. Agnes, Blessed Sacrament, Central Catholic High School, and Mary Manse College. She taught at Blessed Sacrament for 15 years, and her students remember her as a motivating and challenging teacher. Her love of teaching was demonstrated by the impact it had on her students.
Her love of sports began early. She was on the first CYO basketball team and played basketball at Central Catholic High School and Mary Manse College. In college she played, coached, and refereed. In her later years, she began golfing. Her highlight of golf was when she scored a hole in one. After retirement, Sue and Dale enjoyed many years of golfing, cards, friends, family and travel. Sue traveled to Ireland with friends to explore her Irish heritage.
She was a champion of justice. While coaching one of her daughter’s softball team, she discovered the boys’ teams were totally outfitted while the girls only received balls. She and two other coaches went to the city athletic director. From then on, all the teams received equal treatment.
Her love of books and learning came together when she worked for 13 years with the Friends of the Library and spearheaded their book sale. Because of her organization, the book sale profits rose.
She was also committed to her church. She donated many hours to both Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church.
She was truly a Proverbs 31 woman, “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her, many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:28-30.
Visitation will be Sunday, November 2, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the Urbanski’s Bedford Funeral Chapel 8300 Lewis Ave. Temperance, MI. The funeral mass will be celebrated Monday, November 3, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, Temperance where there will be visiting in the Narthex after 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Central Catholic High School, Friends of the Lucas County Library, Heartland Hospice of Monroe, MI or UNICEF. Online condolences may be shared at www.bedfordfuneralchapel.com
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