Dr. Suzanne Marie Hagan, OD nee Swigert/King

Suzanne passed away at age 72 on October 18, 2017, at her home in Ballwin, MO surrounded by friends and family. She was born in 1945 at Fort Knox, KY to Rose Burch and Theodore Swigert. After the death of her father in 1949, the family moved from Buffalo NY to Louisville KY where her mother married James King.

Suzanne was predeceased by both parents as well as a younger brother, James King Jr. (Debbie). She is survived by siblings Theda Adkins (DK), Debby Nold , and John King (Terri), all of Louisville, KY, as well as Rebecca Hilb of Colorado Springs, CO and Valerie Topmiller (Jim) and Marilyn Hankins, both of Orlando, FL.

Other survivors include Suzanne’s husband of 50 years, Joseph (JC) Hagan, and children Kirstie Behlmann (Dale) of Ballwin; Theodore (Ted) Hagan (Jennifer), of Denver, and Nicole (Nicki) Mounir (Khaled) of Los Angeles. Suzanne was a loving grandmother to Julia & Preston Behlmann, John & Lily Hagan, Yasmin & Zain Mounir.

Suzanne attended Our Mother of Sorrows School and St. Raphael School in Louisville, and graduated from Assumption High School. She obtained a BA from Brescia University, a MA from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville and an OD from University of Missouri St Louis.

Prior to becoming an optometrist, Suzanne had various careers in college teaching, science and medical writing and editing. After selling her optometric practice, she enjoyed volunteering outdoors at Shaw Nature Reserve and the Green Center in University City. She also became an advocate for Single Payer Health Care (Medicare for All) and was a frequent letter writer on this topic in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Diagnosed with primary peritoneal carcinoma in 2008, Suzanne chose to spend the last year of her life in the care of hospice. She and her family are grateful for the nurses and staff at Mercy Hospice for enabling her to end her days in her own home, and for the staff at Cancer Support Community and Siteman Cancer Center for providing support groups for both her and her husband.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made to the Hagan scholarships at Brescia University (brescia.weshareonline.org/ws/opportunities/SuzanneHaganMemorialFund), or to the Green Center, St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness (SLOCA) or the Cancer Support Community.

No memorial service is planned, but celebrations of Suzanne’s life will be held at The Green Center (8025 Blackberry Ave, St. Louis, MO 63130) on Friday December 22, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM and at Saint Raphael’s Church (2141 Lancashire Ave, Louisville, KY) on Saturday, November 11, 11:00 AM. Reception to follow.