Sister Susan (Michaela) Rink, BVM
Sister Susan (Michaela) Rink, BVM, 97, of Mount Carmel Bluffs, 1160 Carmel Dr., Dubuque, Iowa, died Sunday, April 27, 2025.
Visitation will be from 9-9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025, in the Mary Frances Clarke Chapel at Mount Carmel Bluffs. Sharing of Memories will be at 9:30 a.m., followed immediately by the Mass of Christian Burial. Burial is in the Mount Carmel Cemetery. All services may be viewed on livestream at https://stream.prestosports.com/bvmsisters beginning at 9:15 a.m.
In Dubuque, Iowa, Sister Susan was biology department chair and instructor at Clarke University, parish visitor at St. Patrick, office staff at AARP, and congregational treasurer. In Chicago, she served as assistant dean and president of Mundelein College and ministered as a youth and substance abuse counsellor. She also taught in secondary schools in Milwaukee and St. Louis.
She was born on Aug. 8, 1927, in Tulsa, Okla., to Raymond and Helen (McEvoy) Rink. She entered the BVM congregation Sept. 8, 1948, from St. Patrick Parish, Dubuque, Iowa. She professed first vows on March 19, 1951, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1956.
She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by cousins and the Sisters of Charity, BVM, with whom she shared life for 76 years.
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If my memory serves me correctly (I’m 78 now), I started work in the Treasurer’s office in April of 1991 while Sue Rink, BVM was Treasurer. I was hired to take care of the sisters’ savings accounts since Terese Beck, BVM would be leaving that position. When I first met Sue, she told me I would have to go by my full name of Susan since there now would be three of us with the same first name in the Treasurer’s office and there would be confusion as to which Sue was being addressed. I “cringed” whenever my full first name was called. I think that was because my mom called me by my full name when I got myself into trouble with her. If I got into some pretty BIG trouble with her, she’d say Susan Mary. For whatever reason that feeling stuck with me all the way into adulthood. Over time I would notice when Sue would arrive at the office in the mornings if she said “good morning” when she walked by our office doors it would be a good day…. but if she said nothing we just kept out of the way. It’s funny the small things you pick up on. I absolutely LOVED working at Mt. Carmel with the sisters. I went to Holy Trinity in Dubuque from Kindergarten through 8th grade and was taught by my parents to have great respect for the sisters and priests. Even when I became a teenager and went to public high school that respect always stayed with me. I remember one time when Sue’s secretary was not available I had to type up a letter that she would send out to a group of the sisters in different positions throughout the country and I must have put something in it that made her call me into her office and ask me if “I was trying to be funny”? I no longer remember what it was, but I told her “No, it was just that we had been taught that we always were to put sisters/priests on a pedestal”. She told me that was fine when I was a child, but I was an adult now and a professional and it wasn’t necessary. I don’t know why that impressed me so much, but I still remember her words yet today. I’ve always felt my time at Mt. Carmel was the BEST job I’d ever had. My condolences to all of you and RIP to Sue. Even though I hadn’t seen her in years, I will miss her. Sue Kurt
Sr. Susan Rink was a significant leader at Mundelein College, Chicago. Perhaps the best remembrance is what she highlighted about herself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w65aXzU_H7c
The BVM’s at Mundelein College were amazing leaders and Catholic women role models.
We were fortunate at Mundelein College to have so many examples of BVM excellence and leadership.