Susan L Ahrens

Susan L. "Sue" Ahrens, 77, of Rootstown, formerly of Shalersville, passed away Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at Vista Veranda in Ravenna. She was born April 20, 1948, in Lowell, Massachusetts, to the late Alfred C. and Ruth (Marden) Woodward. Sue graduated from Crestwood High School in 1966 and went on to Penn Hall girls’ college in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. She married her high school sweetheart, Bruce, in 1967. During his service in the U.S. Army, they had the opportunity to travel throughout Europe together. They recently surpassed their 58th wedding anniversary.

She later earned a degree in home economics from Kent State University and taught at Crestwood High School before stepping away for several years to raise her family. She then worked for Paulich Specialty Company for more than 25 years.

Throughout her life, she held various jobs, including working at the Little Brown Jug in Mantua, as a salad girl at Howard Johnson’s on the turnpike at age 16, and at the European Exchange while living in Germany. She was deeply involved in her community and was a co-founder of the Streetsboro La Leche League.

A devoted member of Grace Episcopal Church for more than 60 years, she taught Sunday School, served on the vestry, and sang in the choir for many years.

She was an avid gardener and spent many years canning and freezing food from her garden. She raised chickens and turkeys and helped deliver pigs and calves, reflecting her strong work ethic and love of rural life that began in her youth, when she and her girlfriends rode around town on their horses.

Survivors include her husband Bruce H. Ahrens, children Fred (Christina) Ahrens and Sonja (Donnie) Sherwood, grandchildren Kathren, Emily (Brandon), Morgan, John, and Madison, also four great grandchildren, and is also survived by her brother Rich (Theresa) Woodward. Calling hours will be from 2 PM to 5 PM Sunday, January 11, 2026, at Shorts Spicer Crislip Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM on Monday, January 12, 2026, at the funeral home with Reverend William Snyder officiating. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery in Shalersville. In lieu of flowers, memorials could be made to Grace Episcopal Church, 250 West Cedar Street, Ravenna, Ohio 44266. The family would like to offer their heartfelt thanks to all of the nurses and staff at Vista Veranda for their love and compassion in caring for Sue