Susan McConnell

Susan Gail Lipscomb McConnell

June 4, 1949-June 13, 2024

Susan Gail Lipscomb McConnell, born June 4, 1949, to William Martin and Esme Yeo Lipscomb, she was a middle child, wedged between her brother, Thomas (Thomas Martin Lipscomb) and sister, Tish (Patricia Lipscomb Crawford).

Susan was a local Pineville girl, going to Pineville Elementary, Pineville Junior High, then graduating from Pineville High School in 1967. As a middle child, Susan was a natural born care-giver and found her calling as a nurse. Graduating from LSUA in 1980 with her Associates Degree in nursing, she spent over 40 years caring for patients and everyone else in her life. She spent the first 15 years of her career working at St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, starting as a unit secretary in 1978, then worked as a Staff Nurse/Charge Nurse, became a certified Medical Surgical Nurse, Utilization Review Nurse and a Case Manager. After Cabrini, Susan worked for Foundation Health Federal Services for 5 years as a Staff Nurse and Case Manager. Then she found a new home working at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital, where she worked for 6 years. And then to make sure she spread her care and love across Alexandria, she thought it only fair to also offer her services at Rapides Regional Medical Center, working for 13 years as an Emergency Department Case Manager and Appeals Analyst/Resource Manager. Only to find that there is no place like home and returned to the now, CHRISTUS Cabrini Hospital to work in the Center for Rehabilitation as a Nurse Liaison until her retirement.

Now you may be wondering about the missing years, between Susan's high school graduation in 1967 and going to nursing school in 1980. During that time, Susan met the love of her life, Wayne, whom she married in 1972. Much of that time they lived with friends near Cane River in Natchitoches while Wayne went to Northwestern State University to get his degree and Susan, according to a friend, was the only one working to support them all. It was the early 70's and much of the memories that Wayne and Susan had of that time were hazy and we will simply leave it at that.

Susan passed peacefully from this world on June 13, 2024 and the angels that were present to welcome her into the gates of Heaven included her father, William, her mother, Esme and her husband of 48 years, Wayne. Those left to ensure that her stories are told and her spirit continues to light this world are her grandaughter, and the other love of her life, Chloe Ni'cole Perego-McConnell; brother, Thomas Lipscomb; sister, Patricia Lipscomb; niece, Tracy Daigre Sasser; great-nephew and future meteorologist, Zachary Emil Sasser; son, Dylan Wayne McConnell; the daughter of her heart, Brandi Perego, who was holding Susan's hand as she transitioned from life to death, and her sisters by choice, Janice Williams and DC Sills. And those are just the few of the folks, Susan's memory and spirit will also continue to be cherished by the Patience Quilters, her church family at First United Methodist Church-Alexandria, the community of people at Canterbury House who loved her and whom she loved and a multitude of friends and people she touched with her generosity, love, kindness and acceptance of everyone.

Even in death, Susan continues to touch lives choosing to donate her body to science. For the next few years, she will once again, as all great nurses do, be schooling young doctors on how to treat and care for patients.

Instead of waiting for Susan to finish turning medical students into great doctors to celebrate her promotion to Heaven, Susan's family will be holding a memorial service at First United Methodist Church-Alexandria (2727 Jackson St, Alexandria) in the 50/50 classroom on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 10:00am with visitation and reception to follow. All are welcome, because Susan never met a stranger!

Susan loved flowers, so please send them, but the family also requests anyone wishing to honor Susan through a donation, please donate to the Louisiana Nurse Honor Guard, Attn: Clelie Dugan, 102 Blue Heron Dr, Mandeville, LA 70471 or to a local charity of your choice.