By Elizabeth Cerami
When college beckoned in 1964 Immaculata University—then known as Immaculata College—was the only school that Susan Sackett Kratzinger applied to. Not only was her mother, Elisabeth DiSanti Sackett, an alumna of Immaculata’s Class of 1930, but to Kratzinger, it was the most beautiful place she had ever seen and she instantly fell in love with the campus. Looking back on a time marked by growing pains associated with the challenging transition from childhood to adulthood and a cross-country move following her parents’ divorce, Kratzinger says her decision to attend Immaculata felt like a calling to have trust and take a leap of faith—one that would shape her in ways she couldn’t understand at the time. She was determined to embrace this new chapter and take full advantage of the unique opportunities that Immaculata had to offer. Kratzinger decided to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, with a minor in secondary education. Beyond the classroom, she actively contributed to campus life, serving on the Social Committee, Student Council and the Modern Foreign Language Association.
After graduating, Kratzinger married her college sweetheart Rich and began her career as an English language teacher, working with Puerto Rican students in North Philadelphia. However, when she and Rich decided to start a family, she left the workforce to raise their three children. It wasn’t until Ann, Richard Jr. (Chip) and Beth were in middle and high school that she reentered the professional world. Eager to embrace new opportunities, she felt excited to navigate this new phase of her life, trusting that it was all part of God’s plan for her.
She held the position of librarian at Shipley School, a private K-12 school in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and over the next several years, Kratzinger earned an additional bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in library science from Beaver College (now Arcadia University). Her next move was to Haverford Middle School, where she spent over 15 years as the school’s librarian before retiring.
In the midst of retirement, Kratzinger and Rich were excited to embark on a long-awaited journey to explore his Welsh roots and reconnect with old friends in England and Wales, booking their trip for May 2024. Yet, amid the thrill of planning, Kratzinger couldn’t shake a strange, persistent feeling that something was looming ahead.
The uneasiness manifested in recurring dreams where she found herself surrounded by family, recovering from an unknown ordeal. In each dream, there was a sense of peace, where she felt God’s presence with her, reassuring her that everything would be okay—even if she couldn’t yet understand why.
Fast forward a few weeks to a carefree day in Wales as the Kratzingers spent time with friends during a visit to Raglan Castle, the recorded birthplace of one of Rich’s ancestors. It was a picture-perfect day—souvenirs in hand, laughter filling the air and the couple chatting happily in the back seat of their friend’s Ford Fiesta as they neared the A40 roundabout, a notorious stretch of road in the United Kingdom.
Then, in the blink of an eye, everything changed.
The headline of an article posted on Wales Online on May 16, 2024 read, “A man and woman were left with life-threatening injuries after a crash on the A40.”
Kratzinger spent four weeks in the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. Their car was hit on the rear passenger side, where she was seated. Shattered ribs, lacerated organs and collapsed lungs left doctors worried she might not survive—and for a week, it was touch and go.
Her friends sustained only minor injuries, while Rich suffered bone fractures. Doctors were confident in his recovery.
Her three children, Beth, Chip and Ann were nothing short of extraordinary during this time. The moment they heard the news, they dropped everything, ready to support both their parents and help see them through to a full recovery. Fortunately, each of them was supported by incredible spouses who shared the same deep commitment to family.
While there, Kratzinger’s children, unaware of her premonition dreams, spoke of signs they saw that they believed were from God—reminders that everything would be okay. Whether it was a poster that resonated with their current situation or the unexpected sighting of their mother’s favorite flowers, daisies, the signs seemed to appear when they were needed most, offering comfort and sense of hope.
Little by little, Kratzinger began to regain her strength, surprising even the doctors with her progress. By the time she left, she was walking again— an incredible testament to her resilience and her unwavering faith in the message she had been told in those dreams that everything would be okay.
“I never saw it as anything more than an accident. I never blamed my friend who was driving, or the other driver behind the wheel of the car that hit us,” she said.
Kratzinger chooses not to focus on the negative, seeing instead the blessings that came from it—the way family, friends and even people they didn’t know stepped up to support them. People brought meals, offered help and innumerable prayers and pitched in however they could.
Living through something like that, Kratzinger is learning to see every moment as a gift, and every night, she thanks God for what she considers her second chance: going from those harrowing moments when survival seemed uncertain, to now, being present and able to share in family moments.
“There’s a plan, even when you can’t see it or don’t understand it. Sometimes you don’t trust it, or you question it, but looking back, I see that everything truly does happen for a reason,” she said.
Kratzinger’s steadfast faith and her commitment in service to others is something she credits Immaculata for ingraining in her.
“The values of faith, service, giving back and helping others–I don’t think I truly understood the power of that until I came to Immaculata. There, it becomes more than just a lesson—it becomes part of who you are,” she reflects.
More than just living by these principles, she strives to teach others to do the same through example. From serving as president of the Haverford Township Historical Society before retiring, to being a current member of The Questers—an international group dedicated to preserving and restoring historical landmarks—her commitment to service runs deep. She volunteers at her church, where she writes a column for the newsletter, organizes meals for those in need, arranges weekly lectors and sits on the consistory. Kratzinger is also a class co-representative for Immaculata, alongside Vicki Guiterras-Abbott, where both work to keep the Class of ’68 connected and encourage their peers to give back to Immaculata in any way they can to help others.
With her second chance, Kratzinger is motivated to pay forward what Immaculata inspired in her: kindness, faith, compassion and the commitment to being a good human being.
A Memorable Evening
with John Denver
During her time at Immaculata University—then known as Immaculata College— Susan Sackett Kratzinger was an active member of the social committee for four years, working alongside other members to arrange mixers and secure performances for the campus. One of the most memorable events was hosting the Mitchell Trio around 1967. The Mitchell Trio, a beloved folk group at the time, featured a young John Denver long before he became a household name and his songs like the timeless anthem “Take Me Home, Country Roads” filled stadiums or graced movie soundtracks.
The concert took place in Immaculata’s old field house, a large venue that could hold a sizable crowd, but the highlight came when the entire social committee had the unique opportunity to dine with the trio in the Immaculata dining hall after their show. While Kratzinger doesn’t recall the specifics of their dinner conversation, she fondly remembers the trio’s graciousness, especially in the presence of Sisters at every table, which may have added a touch of formality. One detail that stayed with her was the striking appearance of John Denver’s companion—likely his future wife, Annie—who wore a daring short skirt and tall boots, a bold fashion statement that perfectly captured the spirit of the times.
Though Denver left the Mitchell Trio in 1968 to pursue a solo career, the memories of that evening remained vivid. Decades later, while watching TV with her husband at Edward’s Air Force Base in California where her husband was stationed, Kratzinger spotted Denver and proudly exclaimed, “That’s the singer I had dinner with at Immaculata after our concert!” From that moment on, she was always eager to share the story of dining with the future legend during his early days with the Mitchell Trio at Immaculata.
