Suzanne Marie Gyllin

Suzanne Marie Gyllin, 78, passed away Thursday, February 13, 2025, at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, IL. Born December 15, 1946, to James and Helen Roppo. Our Heavenly Father, along with friends and family, and a chorus of Angels have welcomed her home to Heaven. She has been reunited with her youngest son, Nathan Ian Gyllin who (at age 38) passed away on March 2, 2021. Suzanne’s father, James Roppo; mother, Helen (Rathnau) Roppo; brother, Anthony Roppo; and sister, Georgene (Roppo) Jancaric, all preceded her in death. Suzanne is survived by her loving husband, Bert; and oldest son, Nicholas with his wife, Caroline and two granddaughters, Gevena (10) and Evelyn (8). She is also survived by her brother, James Roppo, who resides in Colorado.

Suzanne graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1971 with a degree in Journalism. While attending college, she caught the eye of a quiet, well-mannered Vietnam veteran. Too shy to approach her, the veteran was introduced to her by a mutual friend. The pair would marry in 1974, and recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Once she graduated, Suzanne took a job with Montgomery Ward in their Chicago corporate offices, where she would showcase her love of language in print advertising.

Not long after, the couple decided to start a family and once a mother, Suzanne left her career in advertising to raise the children. Little did anyone know at the time – she would also raise up the communities to which she belonged.

In addition to attending both a Catholic grade school and high school, Suzanne continued her faith journey as a dedicated Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) educator and Eucharistic Minister at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in St. Charles, IL (where they lived for 18 years).

Her love for religious education inspired her to earn an educational certificate and substitute teach for Ferson Creek Elementary School in the St. Charles school district. Her favorite subject was art. She was fond of telling unruly children that “if you mess with the bull, you get the horns.” This deeply embarrassed her children, but she didn’t care in the least. Everyone who knew Suzanne understood that she spoke her mind and cared little about the consequences, and those who knew her best loved her for it.

In St. Charles, she avidly pursued her son’s childhood interests and stayed closely involved in Boy Scouts of America as a den mother, taking both sons camping on several occasions, and served as Secretary of the Wasco Baseball League, well beyond her boy’s active involvement. She enjoyed the people and the community, and they enjoyed her rapier wit. For the parents of Wasco baseball, they enjoyed her homemade pennants and the “boombox” she would bring to blare “Jock Jams” and inspire teams between innings.

When her sons had moved out, Suzanne reclaimed her advertising career; working with design print media at Home Hardware (a locally owned hardware store in St. Charles, IL). In addition, she dedicated years to researching the complete genealogy of her family (Roppo/Rathnau) history. This effort culminated in two binders of documentation (hundreds of pages of birth certificates, photographs, maps, name origins, educational and naturalization documents, etc…), one for each side of the family.

Suzanne’s compassion was shown most brightly with her youngest son, Nathan, who was born with a congenital heart defect and diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at the age of 11. She spent countless nights sleeping in hospital chairs and chauffeuring him to and from medical appointments. She was his advocate in life, tirelessly encouraging him through unfathomable struggles for most young men his age. Suzanne embodied God’s love of Nathan.

Bert and Suzanne moved from St. Charles, IL to Cherry Valley, IL in 2007. Not long thereafter, Suzanne introduced herself to the Newberg Village Homeowners Association (the community in which they live). She became Secretary of the association and served in that position for 14 years. She also continued down her path with God at St. Rita’s Catholic Church in nearby Rockford, IL as a Eucharistic Minister where she was a beloved member of the parish for over 17 years. She also volunteered as a substitute teacher at the adjacent St. Rita Catholic School.

Suzanne will be remembered fondly, sitting at the kitchen table holding a mug of hot coffee in both hands and listening intently to troubled minds – attempting her best at comforting them.

Service will be held at St. Rita Catholic Church, 6254 Valley Knoll Drive, Rockford, IL 61109 on Friday, February 28, 2025, at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, please send any appropriated funds to your favorite charitable organization in honor of Suzanne.

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