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Susan van Beuningen (pronounced “van-burning-en”) brings to St. Margaret’s a story marked by resilience, creativity, and joy rediscovered.

Though she has been attending St. Margaret’s for about two and a half years, Susan’s relationship with the church stretches back further. She first encountered St. Margaret’s in the 1970s and, over the years, often drove past the white chapel nestled among the trees on Perkins Road. When the time came to return to church, it felt like coming home—not only to a place, but to a way of life she had long known.

Susan’s return was shaped by both loss and grace. After 30 years of marriage, she lost her husband, William van Beuningen. Years later, she lost her partner, Trey Berlin, whom some at St. Margaret’s will remember. In the midst of that grief, she attended an early gathering of the St. Margaret’s Widows and Widowers group, where she reconnected with Fr. Ron Whitmer, whom she had known years before. What followed began with a somewhat “wordy and confusing” email invite from Ron to coffee—unclear in its intent, but accepted nonetheless. Susan initially thought Ron might simply need to talk about grief. But as the conversation unfolded, and as he presented her with reading material on Hildegard of Bingen (making it, she notes, “the only date where I was given homework”), it became clear this was something more. Before long, she found herself charmed by what she describes as “the biggest, smartest, and absolutely the sweetest nerd” she had ever met. Today, she calls Ron her “beloved companion.”

Their shared life includes plenty of laughter, much of it courtesy of their two dogs: Riley, Susan’s anxious but endearing schnoodle, and Max, Ron’s lively rat terrier mix. Riley, who had a difficult start in a puppy farm, is now learning proper “dog skills” from Max—chasing squirrels, barking at neighbors, and engaging in backyard games that Susan and Ron happily watch from the patio.

Susan’s daughter, Katherine, lives in Asheville, NC

Susan’s path to Baton Rouge began in Fort Worth, where she grew up a middle child and only girl in a lively Episcopal family. Baptized at just three weeks old, she was immersed in church life from her beginning. Her mother sang in the choir and led Sunday School, while her father served as Acolyte Master. Susan describes her childhood as adventurous and free—sunbaked, barefoot, and full of exploration. As a teenager she babysat for church families, even traveling several summers with a clergy family to Nashotah House in Wisconsin. She later served in mission and camp settings.

She moved to Baton Rouge in 1971 though lived for brief periods in Lake Charles and St. Joseph near Lake Bruin. She had a remarkably varied professional life, with roles with a hospital, law firm, veterinary clinics, and a small-town medical practice. One summer found her walking cotton fields in North Louisiana, checking for boll weevil infestations. She worked as a tour guide, a church communications director, and ultimately spent 15 years as an office and project manager for a small interior design firm before retiring. She has also held many volunteer positions, with CASA,  Girl Scouts and other groups over her years in Baton Rouge.

Susan’s deep involvement in church life—particularly during her years at St. Luke’s—was both meaningful and, eventually, exhausting. After decades of teaching Sunday School, supporting youth ministry, working on staff, and raising a child within the church community, she stepped away for a time. But her return to active participation at St. Margaret’s has been marked by renewed joy and purpose.

Today, she serves as a lay reader and a devoted member of the Altar Guild. She treasures the parish’s rich liturgical life and its vibrant, diverse community. “We are called to be one people in Christ,” she says, and she sees St. Margaret’s as a small but real expression of that vision in the world.

At home, Susan enjoys creating, repairing, and problem-solving of all kinds. Many parishioners know her for her imaginative Easter hats. She is currently working on crafting a Paschal candle for the church using recycled old altar candles. She also speaks Dutch at an advanced beginner level.

Looking ahead, Susan brings not only gratitude but ideas. She hopes to see St. Margaret’s expand its Earth Day celebration, host community-friendly events like a food truck roundup, and even organize a Lenten art contest. And, she adds with a smile, she would love for the church to have a bell.

If you ask Susan how she hopes to be remembered, her answer is both lighthearted and deeply sincere: for her Easter hats, certainly—but more importantly, as someone who was never too busy to connect with others.

Don’t miss an opportunity to connect with Susan — about Easter hats, using old church candles in new ways, or her ideas for expanding the Earth Day celebration. She’s easy to talk with, and a good listener.