Obituary of Susan Mary Esther Hines

Susan Mary Esther Hines of Breezy Point, age 78, passed away on Friday, January 16, 2026. Susan was born on August 14, 1947 in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. She is the daughter of the late Dr. William Hines and Catherine (Charles) Hines. 

Susan attended Fordham University, where she earned her degree in early childhood education. Always a beauty queen, she served as both “Miss Fordham” and “Miss Liberty” during her college years. It was also at Fordham where she met her future husband, Michael Paul Rieth.

After working for many years in the early days of New York’s Head Start program, Susan began working in medical education and later as a recreational therapist in the former Peninsula Hospital Center in Rockaway, NY. Susan loved her Breezy Point community and enjoyed photographing the sea and sky. A lover of music, she spent many years singing in the church choir at St. Thomas More, and liked nothing better than hosting a “song fest” where her good friends and family would get together to sing.

Susan is survived by her husband Michael, her sisters Barbara (Hines) McKeegan, Elizabeth (Hines) Leib, and brother William Hines.

She was a loving mother to her two daughters Vanessa (Rieth) Foley and Susanne (Rieth) Fugelsang, and was grandmother to Gus, Emmeline, James, Samuel, and Theodore.

She was beloved by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

Susan was a fighter and great defender of those who couldn’t stick up for themselves. She will be remembered for her beauty, strength, and loyalty to her friends and family.

May she rest in peace. 

Calling hours will be Wednesday, January 21,2026 from 2:00 – 5:00 PM & 7:00 - 9:00 PM at Marine Park Funeral Home, Inc., 3024 Quentin Road, Brooklyn, NY.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held 11:00 AM on Thursday, January 22, 2026 at Blessed Trinity Parish (Saint Thomas More Church) , 204-25 Rockaway Point Blvd, Breezy Point, NY 11697.

 Burial to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery on Friday January 23,2026, 10 W Stevens Ave, Hawthorne, NY 10532

To send a floral tribute please contact Floral Fantasy at 718-238-6978.