SUSAN JEAN LORIA

It is with deep sadness that we announce that Susan Jean Loria passed away on April
5, 2025, at age 78. Susan is survived by her husband of the past 44+ years, Joe,
daughters Evelyn and Michelle, sons Michael and David, bonus-daughters Amber, Julie
and Lisa (deceased) and bonus son Tommy (deceased) -- and her 16 grandchildren and
11 great-grandchildren.

Susan was born on April 23, 1946, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Charles and Evelyn
Sims, and has four sisters, Roberta, Ramona, Lois (deceased), and Mary (deceased).

In 1964, Susan moved from West Virginia to Torrance, California to marry and start a
family. In 1978, she and her family moved to a 1.3-acre ranch home in Riverside, CA.
While being a stay-at-home mom and housewife for several years, Susan showed and
bred horses, volunteered in the classroom, coordinated food distribution to needy
families, gardened, and played “taxi” to her children before moving into a career in the
field of education in 1997.

During Susan’s first two years in education, she was a substitute Instructional Assistant
in various units such as Special Education, Teen Parenting, and Preschool, which is
where she found her passion as a paraeducator in Head Start State Preschool. She had
a big heart for children, especially the babies, and had an enthusiastic love for learning.
She went back to college, took many early childhood education courses and obtained
her childhood development teacher’s permit in 2004. And in 2005, at age 59, Susan
graduated from college with her associate’s in arts degree with distinction, having
exceptional academic performance.

After serving Riverside County’s youth as a paraeducator for over 20 years, Susan
retired from early childhood education in 2017. During Susan’s retirement, she took
pride in helping her family, babysitting her grandchildren, cooking for her husband; and
always looked forward to poker nights with the family!

Susan was a devoted wife, made many sacrifices for her family, always thought of
others first, was an amazing cook, made her husband breakfast in bed every morning
until the day she died, was a genuinely good person, generous and kind to a fault, and
was a dedicated mother.

A year and a half ago, Susan began attending Sandals Church Woodcrest regularly
where she found a deeper connection with our Lord and Savior. Susan expressed that
she had always been a believer, however had never been baptized. On a hot day in
October 2024, Susan was baptized at Sandals Church.

Although Susan will be greatly missed, we find comfort in knowing she is serving her
Lord and Savior in Heaven.

Visitation will be Monday, May 19, 2025 from 10:30-11 am at Sandals Church, Riverside. Funeral Service will begin at 11am. Interment will be private.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Akes Family Funeral Home, Riverside, California.

©copyright 2025 Akes Family Funeral Homes

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