The Rev. Sue Sikking; Founder of Unity by the Sea Church

The Rev. Sue Sikking, founder and minister of Santa Monica’s Unity by the Sea Church for four decades, has died. She was 93.

Mrs. Sikking, known as “Dr. Sue,” died June 13 of cardiac arrest at Pacific Convolarium, a Santa Monica nursing home.

A pioneer in a profession slow to admit women, she established her church at 1245 4th St., Santa Monica, in 1944.

“A lot of the work is helping people to face life--and women can do this well,” she told The Times in 1972. “Our greatest work is counseling and working with people who have problems.”

Mrs. Sikking led an ill-fated movement in 1972 to drop “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the national anthem, claiming it was too warlike. She suggested as possible substitutes: “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” “America the Beautiful” or “God Bless America.”

“The national anthem of the United States should remind us not of rockets and bursting bombs,” she said, “but rather of freedom, justice and brotherhood--for these things are the true spirit of these United States.”

In addition to working with her congregation of 5,000, she had a radio program called “A Letter to Adam,” taught extensively on television and lectured throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia and Japan. She also wrote a number of books.

Mrs. Sikking became a minister at 35 out of gratitude to God for her recovery after a nearly fatal automobile accident, she said. Her example prompted her late husband, Art, and three of their five children, Robert and Tom Sikking and Joy Turowski, to follow her into the ministry.

She is survived by four children--Tom, Joy, Art and Jim, 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday in the chapel at Pierce Brothers Mortuary, 1230 Montana Ave., Santa Monica.

The family has requested that memorial contributions be made to Unity West Church, 1223 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 204, Santa Monica, 90403, or to the Venice Family Clinic, 604 Rose Ave., Venice, 90291.