Suzanne Antisdel, 96, was a woman totally engaged with life. She was a mother and grandmother, gifted professional pianist, and activist for the environment and social causes. Suzanne was born December 16, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan, and at age 88, moved to Baltimore, Maryland to be closer to her children, Dr. James Parshall (Susan Witty), and daughter, Anne Parshall (John Pritchett) as well as her three adult grandchildren, Rachel, Erik, and Ruby.

Suzanne achieved a B.A. degree in English and an MSW, both from Wayne State University in Detroit and spent many years as Detroit’s Director of the Health Education Council. It was at Wayne State that she met her beloved husband of 30 years, Art Antisdel, who was a professor of social work. Both Suzanne and Art were avid supporters of Detroit’s Cass Community Social Services and were instrumental in helping to build affordable housing for indigent persons, one such building named in his honor: The Art Antisdel Apartments.

After Art passed, Suzanne moved into an apartment in downtown Detroit where she delighted at her corner view of the city and the Detroit Institute of Arts. She enjoyed films and concerts in the Diego Rivera courtyard and was a devoted fan of the Detroit Jazz Festival.

Suzanne wore many hats throughout her 96 years on this earth and at times was a force to be reckoned with. Some people would call her stubborn. She marched in protests with Women in Black and was once even arrested, wearing plastic handcuffs that led Art to refer to her as “my little felon.”

Suzanne would keep her apartment door open when she played her piano and neighbors could drop in to listen to jazz standards and music from the ‘40s and ‘50s. At age 92 she also adopted a little dog named Bizzy. She loved to talk politics, art, health, music and most of all stories about her beloved husband, Art. Each evening at five o’clock she would mix her martini and end her day. It was a ritual for her.

Suzanne was a light in the world, making the world a better place with her quiet acts of kindness. Being Suzanne, she will have a green burial at Serenity Ridge Natural Burial Cemetery and a pending memorial gathering. She will be so missed. Rest well Suzanne.

Please share online condolences with the family by signing her guestbook through www.peacefulalternatives.com.