Susan Abby Maginnis Fowler, of Alfred, New York passed peacefully to Heaven in her sleep in Santa Cruz, California on January 25th, 2025. Susan was born on the 10th of March, 1937, in Boston, MA. She was raised there by her father, Charles D. Maginnis, and her mother, Barbara S. Maginnis, whom she adored. Susan loved to read and learn; she attended Archbishop WIlliams High School in Braintree, MA. Later in life, she went on to achieve her Master’s degree in Nursing at Labouré College in Boston and a Holistic Healing degree at Empire State University. She was passionate and humble about healing those in need.
Susan had two beautiful sons, John and Eric Fowler, with her former husband, Jerry Fowler, in Palo Alto, CA. She raised her children all over the world, from California, to Virginia, to Indonesia and Taiwan, where she helped care for orphans. Susan became fluent in Mandarin and nurtured a love for Eastern Asian cultures even after moving back to the States. In 1977, the family settled down in a house on McHenry Valley Road in Alfred, NY. Susan tended to the garden and the small pond, and often recalled befriending the deer and foxes who wandered into her yard. It was in this home where she hosted families from Eastern Asia over the years. She lived at McHenry Valley into her seniority, and cherished it dearly.
Susan was a devoted and loyal Catholic. She drew faith and inspiration from the stories of Mother Theresa and her healing work, and pursued a Master of Pastoral Ministry at Christ the King Seminary. She worked as a nurse for the local Diocese, and led prayer and retreats for students at Our Lady of Grace Guest House. She remained an active member of Saint Brendan and Jude Parish and the Secular Carmelite Order her entire life. She tirelessly spread the word and counseled anyone who needed her help.
Susan is survived by her sister Kathleen Maginnis, her sons John and Eric, and her four grandchildren: Montana, Camille, Theo, and Christopher Fowler. She was a loving grandmother and treasured her time with them. When she wasn’t in Alfred, she lived for periods in Washington with Eric, his wife Helena, and their son Christopher, helping raise and nurture him. Most Christmases, she visited her other three grandchildren, her son John, and his wife Amy in Santa Cruz, CA. Her grandchildren fondly remember her telling stories while she taught them to bake cookies and make Taiwanese pork gyoza from scratch. Most of all they recall her soft, sweet voice singing them to sleep. Her favorite song to sing was “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.
The Catholic mass funeral service will be led by Fr. Eugene Ulrich at St. Brendan’s and St. Jude at the St. Jude Worship site at 11AM on Saturday, March 8, 2025. Susan will rejoin her father as she is buried in the Maginnis family plot in Boston. Sue, we know you’re singing to us from Heaven. Rest peacefully.
