Meet a long-time loyal and generous friend of the Oblates.

Originally from Chicago, Sue Buehler moved to the St. Louis area with her family in 1936. While working as a cashier at Woolworth’s, she met her husband, Roy, who was working there as a maintenance man. He put his skills to the test when he swept Sue off her feet. They were married in 1940 and decided to settle in Affton, Missouri, while the rest of Sue’s family ended up back in Chicago.

Roy and Sue’s relationship with the Missionary Oblates started back in the 1950s when the Oblates were building the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois.

“Roy was really into the Shrine since the beginning. He got plaques for our whole family, and we would bring everyone there when they’d come in town for family occasions. We loved going to the Shrine,” explains Sue.

After Roy retired from Union Electric, they decided to move back to
Chicago to help care for Sue’s ailing parents. After losing both of her
parents, Sue and Roy spent their retirement traveling.

“Roy lived 18 years after he retired. We were able to go to Europe, Australia, and we visited most of the 50 states. We really enjoyed our time together. He died in 1988 after 47 years of marriage.”

Sue’s relationship with the Oblates continued through the years as she attended the annual Healing Novena at the Shrine. Also, in 1990 she traveled to Lourdes, France, with a group organized by Fr.David Kalert,O.M.I., former director of the Shrine. She had a wonderful experience and ended up going on two other trips with the Oblates, one to Fatima in Portugal. In 1995 she attended the canonization of St. Eugene De Mazenod in Rome.

“It was so special to be there for that sacred occasion.” She remembers all of her trips with extreme fondness and said she considers the Oblates “like family.”

Sue desperately wanted to have children of her own, but was never able to have them. “I guess God wanted me to be an aunt instead. We have more than 50 nieces and nephews and I feel like they are all my own children.”

Her love and dedication to her nieces and nephews are most evident in her relationship with her niece, Bobbie Potter. Due to some serious back problems, Bobbie is partially disabled and needs assistance. Therefore, Sue lives with her and helps take care of her. She certainly does not see it as a sacrifice.

“I’m so glad I have Bobbie,” she says. “I’d be alone without her, too. The doctor says we complement each other. We think the same way all the time. I just feel bad that I can’t do more to take away her pain. She suffers so much.”

Sue is not only generous with her time and talent, but also with her treasure. A long-time donor to the Missionary Oblates, she says she gives because, “I see the wonderful work the Oblates are doing around the world when I read the updates about the missions. They have helped my faith grow so much, and it’s a privilege to know them. They are close to my heart.”