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Educated as a nurse, ordained an Episcopal priest, the Rev. Susan Sager might best be remembered as an advocate for the homeless.

Until she became ill about three months ago, Sager would lead a Sunday service at St. Martin's Hospitality Service - a homeless-services provider in Albuquerque. The center was founded in 1985 by Sager and volunteers from local Episcopal churches, and she served as its first executive director.

"It gave her great gratification that she could help them," said Linda Fuller, shelter director.

Sager, a longtime city resident, died May 12 after a short battle with cancer. She was 64.

The Wharton, Texas, native earned a nursing degree from the University of Texas, during which time she met her husband, Edward Sager, whom she married in 1965.

After Edward Sager's service in the Air Force, the couple settled in Albuquerque.

Susan Sager worked as a registered nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital early on, then became more involved in the church, Edward Sager said.

She was ordained in 1983, "becoming the only female priest in Albuquerque and one of around 500 in the nation," according to an Albuquerque Tribune story published at the time.

The Rev. Sager initially was assigned to St. Mary's Episcopal Church and later became somewhat exclusively assigned to St. Martin's, her husband said.

Edward Sager recalled that his wife would load her Chevy Suburban with people who needed a ride and take them around town. One time, she came upon a stabbing victim.

"She whipped off her slip and wrapped this guy's stab wound up - I think probably saved his life," he said.

Fuller talked about how Sager and her husband would travel to Honduras every year to provide medical care to the needy in a rural village. They made the trip for 11 years.

"That was a big part of her life, as well, helping not only people in the United States but poor people that needed medical treatment or spiritual treatment or just someone to talk to," Fuller said.

Sager's survivors include her husband of almost 42 years, a daughter and two sons.