Susana M. Schwarm

Susana M Schwarm, of Rancho Viejo, after a courageous 8 year battle with pancreatic cancer, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2009, at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, with her family at her side. Her strength and tenacity throughout her illness had been, and will always be, an inspiration to all who knew and loved her.

She was born in Brownsville, on November 18, 1947, to Federico Elizondo, and Felisia Ana Elizardo Elizondo. She is survived by her husband of 18 years, John Schwarm, her sister Beatrice Elizondo, of Brownsville, her brother Fred Elizondo, of Sunnyvale, California, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was very fond of animals as evidenced by the many pet dogs and cats that shared her life through the years.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Susana attended Brownsville High School, graduating in 1966, and Texas AI in Kingsville, graduating in 1972 with a degree in Sociology. She also attended graduate school at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City and University of Texas at Austin. She worked as a counselor and social worker in various programs in Austin, Brownsville, Eagle Pass, Salem, Oregon, and Kokomo, Indiana. She and her sister operated a photography studio in Brownsville as well. In 1980, she went to work for Deltrnicos de Matamoros in the Human Resources department as an ESL teacher, photographer, and communications manager for 12 years.

Susana enjoyed traveling abroad, visiting more than 20 countries in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. She also lived for extended periods in Mexico, Singapore, and Germany. While in Singapore she was President of the Spanish Speaking Womens Association, and in Germany she belonged to the German-American Friendship Society.

Susana was a member of the Pan American Round Table I in Brownsville where she served in several capacities, including Table Director from 2006 to 2008. She passionately believed in the principles of Pan-Americanism, and the educational programs of the Table. She especially enjoyed participating in the costume reviews held by the Table and the Costumes of the Americas Museum. She also enjoyed her memberships in the Rancho Viejo Garden Club and Ladies Golf Association.

The family thanks Doctors Todd Shenkenberg and Jason Phillips for their care and support to Susana, as well as the staff at Valley Baptist Harlingen for their generous spirits during her many stays with them.

A Celebration of Susanas life will be held on Saturday, March 28 2009, from 1 to 3 PM, at the Casa Grande in Rancho Viejo.
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