Susan Rice Paradis

Susan (Rice) Paradis was born December 2, 1950, in Greenville, South Carolina to Mary (Clark) and Oscar Prince Rice, Jr.

Susan was raised in Travelers Rest, South Carolina and graduated from Travelers Rest High School in 1968. She then attended the University of South Carolina where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Master of Music Education. While in college she met the love of her life, Doug, on a blind date. They were married in 1972 and after finishing up their university education they began their journey west. Doug and Susan settled in Richardson, Texas in 1979. Susan taught music in Dallas-area schools and then in 1986 began her successful private piano studio.

Susan and Doug created a beautiful life together and had three children: Rebecca, Ed, and Elizabeth. As a wife, Susan loved having fun adventures with Doug, whether trying new restaurants around town or traveling the world. She traveled to countries such as New Zealand, Iceland, and many countries in Europe, where she enjoyed trying new foods and seeing the different landscapes with her husband by her side. As a mother, Susan was loving and supportive. She instilled in her children a love of learning, especially in music. She taught her children and grandchildren to play piano and will be remembered for her patience and kindness. As a lifelong learner, she educated herself on how to teach and compose music on digital platforms. She was an early adopter of the internet and established a successful online business and blog in 2006.

Susan's special talent was to make learning music fun and appealing to young children, and she fostered a love for music in her elementary school and piano students. She delighted in running her website and her piano studio, where she created original teaching materials and composed early learner music for fellow music teachers. Susan was respected by her peers as an expert in teaching methodologies, and she was often asked to participate in speaking engagements and conferences. She served multiple leadership and board positions in local music teachers associations. Susan was honored as a Fellow of the Music Teachers National Association Foundation in 2019 and as the Texas Music Teachers Association’s Teacher of the Year in 2021. In Susan’s five-year battle with cancer, she demonstrated tenacity, dedication, and an incredible strength by continuing her musical pursuits while fighting the disease. She was a wonderful role model, and her family will miss her greatly.

Susan is survived by her husband, Douglas Paradis, her daughter  Rebecca Bork and her spouse Stephan Bork, her son Ed Paradis and his spouse Katharine Canning, her daughter  Elizabeth Boyd and her spouse Christopher Boyd,  her grandsons David Bork, Michael Bork, Theodore Boyd, and Frederick Boyd, her brother John Thomas Rice, her sister-in-law Mary Rose Paradis and her spouse Max Hess, her brother-in-law James Paradis and his spouse Winnie Paradis, her sister-in-law Deborah Rice, along with cousins, nephews and a niece,  and many cherished friends.  She is preceded in death by her parents, Mary and Ossie, and her nephew, John Thomas Rice, Jr.

There will be a celebration of Susan’s life at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at Christ Church Plano. A reception will follow the service.

Susan will be laid to rest at the Christ Church Plano Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Susan Paradis Music Camp Scholarship here: https://susanparadis.com/scholarship/