Suda Mae Waser

Suda Mae (Martin) Waser, born November 23, 1938 near Eminence, Missouri, passed away on February 12, 2025 in Chesterfield, Missouri. She was a loving and giving presence in the lives of her family, her patients, her students, and her friends and will be cherished and remembered by all who had the privilege to know her.

She was a woman of many talents. Her vocation as a registered nurse led her to work in hospitals, primarily in psychiatric care, in Memphis, Tennessee and in St. Louis, Missouri. After leaving hospital work, Suda taught for many years in the Public School District of the City of St. Louis as a nursing instructor. After retirement, she gave much of her time to Volunteers in Medicine’s West Country Clinic, providing healthcare for those not covered under any plan. Her belief in the need for universal health care for all Americans colored much of her life. Those who worked with her knew her to be a kind and compassionate colleague.

Flowers and plants were a passion and she spent much of three seasons a year in her garden cultivating beautiful surroundings. She also loved to work with silk flowers, designing innumerable arrangements for family and friends.

Suda was a graduate of Eminence High School, Eminence, Missouri and Missouri Baptist School of Nursing. She was particularly proud of her Bachelor in Science in Health Care Administration from Saint Joseph’s College which she completed in 1983. 

Her mantra was “I have the best family in the world.” She survived by her son Christopher James Waser II; her siblings William Marvin (Cecilia) Martin and Stanley Paul (Donna) Martin; her nieces and nephews, John (Marlea) Warren, Melinda Warren (Arbi Ben Abdallah), Funston Edward (Margaret) Warren, Robert (Candace) Warren, Lawrence (Celeste) Warren, John David (Kim) Martin, Daniel (Lisa) Martin, Brenda (Darrell) Herrington, Glenda (Lennie) Wideman, James Walker, Kathy Walker, Kenneth (DeLisa) Martin, Brian (Renee) Martin, Gregory (Lorie) Martin, Paula Bowen, William Martin, and Kevin (Jenny) Martin; many great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, John David Martin and Dorothy Louisa (Light) Martin; five siblings, John Damen Martin, Nellie Martin, Thelma Eileen Martin Warren (Funston); Ernestine Martin Walker (James), and James David Martin (Mildred); her nieces Tina Sue Martin Bourbon, Diana Walker and Karen Walker; her nephews Steven Walker and Martin (Amber) Warren.

While close to all of her family, she had a special relationship with Miriam Rose Ben Abdallah and Leila Elizabeth Ben Abdallah. She informally adopted them as her grandchildren when they were born and played a strong role in their lives.

Suda was spiritual, but not especially religious. A service to honor her will be held at The First Baptist Church of Cedar Hill, Fellowship Hall, 8265 Local Hillisboro Road, Cedar Hill, MO 63016 at 3 pm on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. She hated funerals so this will be a slightly unorthodox memorial service, no official service but all can speak if they like.

Suda was loved by all and will be sorely missed.

No flowers.

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