Azucena "Sue" Emanuel's Obituary
Azucena “Sue” Emanuel, was born on November 21, 1928. She passed away peacefully on Friday, August 4, 2017, after 88 years of devotion to her family and friends. She was born and raised in Hebbronville, Texas, the baby of a family of seven children born to Adelfa and Urbano Garza. She graduated from high school into the WWII effort, where her brothers were serving as soldiers. She decided to do her part by joining the civil service, following her big sisters to Corpus Christi, Texas, then on to San Diego, California, a big city where, in her words, she was able to “meet sailors and go dancing!” She married one of those sailors, Nathan “Gene” Emanuel and they had four children together. Gene continued to serve in the Air Force after the war, and Sue raised her family in California, Idaho, Spain, Mississippi, Japan, and finally, back in Texas, where the family settled. After her children were grown, Sue worked as a bilingual teaching aide in Texas and California and actively volunteered in her church wherever she was living.Frequently, Sue wasn’t just the life of the party, she was the party. Sue was a charming and vivacious woman, with an infectious laugh and a penchant towards mischief that attracted everyone around her. She loved being out in all kinds of weather and had to be reminded that tornados and hurricanes were meant to be avoided, not relished. She was forever picking up interesting shells, unusual stones, or colorful bird feathers that attracted her eye, intent on bringing bits of nature back inside with her. She also loved to read and usually had a book close at hand. What Sue probably loved best, though, was a party, preferably one that involved costumes, and definitely one that included lively music, good food and happy company.Sue is preceded in death by her parents, Urbano and Adelfa Garza, her sisters Ysaura Romo, Lila Taylor, Maria Hudson, and their spouses, her brothers Urbano and Octavio Garza, and their spouses, and her husband, Nathan Emanuel. Sue is survived by her children, their spouses and her grandchildren: Michael (Judy Lauri) Emanuel of Pleasanton, CA; Susan Carozza and her husband, Richard, of Corvallis, OR; Carrie Woodworth, her husband, Daniel, and their son, Andrew, of Round Rock, TX; and Mark Emanuel, his wife, Christine, and their children, Riley and Benjamin, of Austin, TX. Sue will also be fondly remembered by numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws, extended family, and dear friends, all of whom will recall her wonderful sense of humor, her strong spirit, and her commitment to those she loved. She will live on as friends and family recall the many stories she enjoyed regaling them with – stories that were mostly true, almost always had a happy ending, and whenever possible, included a good punch line.A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 19, 2017 at 2:00 pm at the Greenwood Memorial Park and Mortuary in San Diego, CA, where she will be laid to rest among her beloved siblings and parents.
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