KEWANEE- Susan N. Rhode, 75, of Kewanee, died at 12:18 p.m., Saturday. January 25, 2025, at her home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 30 at Saint John Paul II Parish in Kewanee with Fr. Ghislain Inai, SMA officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m., on Wednesday, January 29, at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee with a rosary being recited at 5:45 p.m. Cremation will be accorded following the services, and inurnment will take place at Pleasant View Cemetery in Kewanee. Memorials may be directed to the Henry County Humane Society- Kewanee Chapter.

She was born November 11, 1949, the daughter of James and Josephine (Schneider) Somers. Suzi attended Visitation Catholic School and Wethersfield High School graduating in 1967 and then attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale graduating in 1969 with an associate’s degree. After graduation, she moved to Chicago and worked as a legal secretary while attending law school in the evening. In 1979, Suzi graduated from DePaul University with a bachelor’s degree and went on to law school passing the Illinois Bar Exam in 1981. She practiced law at McDermott, Will, and Emory in Chicago until opening her own firm in 1998 with partner Kevin McDevitt. Suzi had the honor of representing a client at the Supreme Court Level. She retired from law in 2007.

Suzi was a lifelong traveler, visiting England, Mexico, Austria, Canada, and Scotland as well as many locations throughout the U.S. Her favorite destination was Lahaina, Maui. She frequently visited there and enjoyed meeting the native people.

An animal lover at heart, Suzi was a longtime supporter of the Humane Society. She enjoyed decorating houses and spending time with her friends and family. Suzi was also a proud Rotarian, member of the Illinois Bar Association, and the International Trademark Association.

Surviving is her daughter, Cary Jo Schaub of Wesley Chapel, FL, her brothers; Mike Sommers (Maddie) of Coos Bay, OR and Bob Somers of Sterling, IL, as well as many extended family members.