Susan J. Kleszewski was born in New York City in 1942. She graduated from Queens College in Flushing, NY with her BA in Liberal Studies and an MA in Secondary Education from Hofstra University, NY where she realized that her passion was in Social Services. She graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana, IL in 1974 with a Master of Social Work. In 1983 Susan founded her private practice “The Center for Family Living” in the City of Corona, CA, providing therapy to individuals, adults, children, families, couples, and groups.
From 1991 to 1998 Susan worked for Catholic Charities at the Diocese of San Bernardino as the Director of Clinical Services for Caritas Counseling Colton, CA from 1991 to 1998. She developed and administered a non-profit counseling program that provided child abuse treatment services and a clinical internship program for graduate students and post-masters interns. While at the Diocese of San Bernardino she was a Director for Project Rachel from 1987 to 1998, worked with the Family Life Commission and Disaster Preparedness Commission. She also continued her passion of helping others at the Diocese by writing an ongoing column in the Inland Catholic Newsletter on mental health.
Susan was devoted to the Catholic Church and was a member of St. Edwards Church of Corona California where her, her husband, and three children attended services. Susan graduated from the Straling Leadership Institute, Lay ministry in 1988 and later the Pastoral Ministry Formation Program.
For several years Susan worked for St. Edwards Church as a family life minister developing outreach programs for visitation of the sick and elderly, bereavement ministry, funeral planning, grief and loss counseling, marriage and pre-marital counseling, and coordination of volunteer staff. She also donated her time to the hospitality room after Sunday Masses and as a lector at Mass for many years.
Susan continued to work in private practice in Corona, CA until she retired in 2021 at the age of 78. She spent her retirement enjoying tea with friends, doing crafts, painting ceramics, and spending time with family at the beach which reminded her of her family’s home in Sag Harbor, NY.
Susan managed very well after her Parkinson’s diagnosis for over 13 years. She passed away unexpectedly from heart complications at Riverside Community Hospital, she was 81. She was a valued member of her church and community. Her passion was helping people.
Susan Kleszewski was preceded in death by her father William Gibelman of Sag Harbor, NY; her mother Mildred Banner of South Hampton, NY; her sister Margaret Gibelman of Teaneck, NJ, Professor of Social Work at Yeshiva University; and her husband Michael J. Kleszewski of Corona, CA. She is survived by her three children Leigh Ann Shute, Christian Kleszewski, and Katharine “Katy” Kleszewski; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral Mass will be held at St. Matthews Church of Corona, CA on Friday October 18, 2024, at 11am. Donations in Susans name can be made to the Parkinsons Foundation or Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.