Suzanne D. Batista

Suzanne Dorsey Batista was a caring wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend. She passed away peacefully after a difficult fight with Dementia, in the early morning of June 21st, 2021 at the age of 87.

She was born to Evelyn and Leo Dorsey on July 13th, 1933 in Jamestown, New York. At a very young age, she found a love of tap dancing and at 7 years old, danced for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Around the same time, she was the understudy for Shirley Temple. After she graduated from high school, her love of music took her to Western Maryland College to pursue her Bachelor of Arts Degree. During her sophomore year, she met the love of her life, John V. Batista, she affectionately called João. After they both graduated, John and Suzanne married on June 30th, 1956. Together, they had four children. 2021 marked 65 wonderful years of marriage.



Suzanne was an entrepreneur, starting her own piano studio where she taught music for 15 years and was very active in the Ohio Music Teachers Association. She loved to give back and was very involved in her community, volunteering at her church, in schools and for Christ Child Society of Dayton. She was an avid tennis player, playing weekly with her husband and their tennis buddies. She loved reading, and was a beloved member of many book clubs. She was a talented seamstress, creating quilts, costumes and church liturgical banners. Suzanne happily spent a lot of time in the kitchen cooking and baking for her loved ones; most memorably her Christmas cookies and famous chocolate pound cake.



Suzanne was celebratory and full of life. She was extremely devoted to and proud of her family, going out of her way to make them feel special and loved. She was a wonderful and supportive friend. She was giving, thoughtful and beautiful. She had a balance of kindness, compassion and strength that was awe-inspiring. Suzanne was a warm, bright spirit in all of the lives she touched and is already greatly missed by many. The memories she leaves us with will last a lifetime.



Suzanne was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Maria and many friends. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, John V. Batista; Siblings Mary Lou Urquhart (R. Peter) and Leo A. Dorsey Jr. (Rose); Children John (Jay) V. Batista Jr. (Annette), Michael J. Batista (Marcia) and Elizabeth B. Haines (James); Grandchildren Rachael Berger (Joseph), Nicholas Batista (Courtney), Benjamin Batista (Nicole), Jessica Batista (Kyle), Hannah and Jacob Haines; Great grandchildren Wesley and Rita Berger; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Visitation will be held on July 9th, 2021 from 5:00-8:00pm at Westbrock Funeral Home, 5980 Bigger Road, Kettering, OH 45440. A funeral service will be held on July 10th, 2021 at 10:00am at St Charles Borromeo Church. In lieu of flowers, family requests contributions be made to Christ Child Society of Dayton at PO Box 292058 Dayton, OH 45429 and Capital City Hospice at The Hope Foundation, 2800 Corporate Exchange Dr., Suite 170, Columbus, OH 43231.