Suzanne Schnerr Obituary 2021 Instant
She is survived by her children and grandchildren, her sister, countless nieces and nephews, and a world of people who were lucky enough to call her friend.
Her childhood was marked by a voracious appetite for reading and an unusual talent for music. By the age of ten, she was already playing piano at local church gatherings, a habit she would continue for the next six decades. Friends recall that Suzanne had a unique ability to make every person in a room feel seen—whether it was the pastor, the janitor, or a visiting stranger. Though Suzanne held several professional roles over the years—most notably as a dedicated administrative manager for a regional healthcare network—her true vocation was caregiving. In the 1980s, she returned to school to earn a degree in social work, determined to move from simply managing paperwork to actively improving lives. suzanne schnerr obituary
She also loved to travel, especially road trips across the American Southwest. Her favorite place on earth was Sedona, Arizona, where she said the red rocks reminded her that "some things are too ancient and beautiful to be rushed." In her final years, Suzanne faced her health challenges with the same pragmatic courage she had shown her whole life. Diagnosed with a chronic illness nearly a decade ago, she refused to let it define her. Instead, she volunteered at a local hospice, comforting others who were navigating the very journey she was on herself. She is survived by her children and grandchildren,
She passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, listening to a recording of Chopin—her favorite composer. Her last words, spoken to her daughter Jennifer, were simple: "No tears. I had a beautiful ride." A memorial service celebrating Suzanne’s life will be held at the First Community Church on Saturday, October 21, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Suzanne Schnerr Memorial Fund for Youth Social Services, which will provide scholarships for underprivileged students seeking degrees in social work. Legacy Suzanne Schnerr did not seek fame, and she never held a public office. She did not write a bestselling book or appear on television. But by every metric that matters, she was a giant. She leaves behind a family rooted in love, friends who consider themselves better for knowing her, and a community that is emptier without her—but infinitely richer because she was here. Friends recall that Suzanne had a unique ability
In the words of her favorite poet, Mary Oliver: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Suzanne Schnerr answered that question every single day, with kindness, with resilience, and with an open heart.
For over 25 years, Suzanne worked with underprivileged youth and elderly populations, bridging generational gaps with an intuitive grace. Colleagues remember her as the one who stayed late to listen to a teenager in crisis, or the one who drove three hours just to deliver groceries to a homebound senior. "She didn't see clients," one former coworker told us. "She saw family." Above all else, Suzanne Schnerr was a devoted matriarch. She married her high school sweetheart, the late Robert “Bob” Schnerr, in a simple but elegant ceremony in 1969. Their 48-year marriage was a study in mutual respect and partnership. Bob often joked that Suzanne was the "rudder of their ship"—steady, directional, and unfailingly calm even in the stormiest waters.
The community lost a beacon of quiet strength and boundless compassion with the passing of Suzanne Schnerr. While the specific date and location of her passing are being held closely by family for privacy, the news of her death has sent ripples of sorrow through the countless lives she touched. This obituary serves not only as a record of her departure but as a celebration of a woman who redefined what it means to live a meaningful life. Early Life and Roots Suzanne Schnerr was born in the mid-20th century in the heartland of America, where small-town values of hard work and neighborly kindness were the currency of daily life. Raised in a close-knit family, Suzanne learned early on that one’s legacy is not built on wealth or titles, but on the relationships one nurtures.