Susan Anne Thurber

Susan Anne Dockendorff-Thurber was born in Stevens Point, WI on October 14, 1939, and died on October 1, 2021 in Houston, TX. She graduated high school from Edgewood High School in Madison, WI, and graduated from Marquette University with a BS in Physical Therapy. She also attended the University of St. Thomas Cameron School of Business from 1983-1986.

Upon graduation from college, she moved to Dallas to work for the Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children at Parkland Hospital. It was there that she met Bill Thurber and they started a family together. After moves to Houston and Massachusetts, the family moved back to Houston where she lived until her passing. She worked for Texas Children’s Hospital at the Meyer Center for Developmental Pediatrics, where she was the Coordinator of Physical Therapy and the Good Start Program. She was instrumental in the research of infants born with Congenital Rubella Syndrome and premature infants, and wrote numerous published articles with her colleague Dr. Murdina Desmond. She also taught clinical students of Physical Therapy from the Baylor College of Medicine. Susan was also the Program Director of Acute Rehabilitation Services and the Program Director for the Outpatient Clinic for Plaza Del Oro Hospital in Houston. When she retired at the age of 70, she was working as a Home Health Therapist for Memorial Herman Hospital Southwest.

Susan’s professional life pales in comparison to her role as a mother. Her greatest pride was her family, and she raised her son and daughter, William Todd Thurber and Elizabeth Jayne Thurber-Kimes, with Catholic values and a strong work ethic. Susan made numerous sacrifices to send her children to the best schools in the city and to send them to college and was the definition of a selfless mother’s love. She devoted her life to her children, her daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and granddaughter.

Susan particularly relished her role of “Grandma Susan” to granddaughter Melissa Ann Thurber. She started her role as grandma to her only grandchild by making all of the curtains and bedding for her as an infant and continued to sew Melissa’s clothes and doll clothes as she grew up. When that became too large of a task, Grandma eventually graduated to purchasing almost every single American Girl outfit for Melissa’s dolls. As Melissa got older, Susan continued her role by attending every sporting and academic event of her granddaughter.

Susan’s Catholic faith was admirable. Even in the last weeks of her life, she told her family, “This is all in God’s hands.”, and “You need to pray for a good death like I did”. Susan was an active member of Our Lady of Walsingham Parish and relished her role running the Shrine Shoppe in her retirement years. She loved purchasing beautiful and unique pieces for the shop.

Susan enjoyed playing bridge with her friends, watching college football and the Astros, and loved to travel. On one particular trip to Paris when she vacationed on her own, she noted that she loved that she could just smoke her cigarette freely while walking down the Champs-Élysées.

Susan was an independent and strong woman. Even after battling complications for 7 months following major surgery, and having to remain in the hospital throughout this time, Susan’s sharp wit and intellect never waned. As her body struggled with the illness, Susan’s mind was alert, and she would spend her time visiting with family and friends by writing back and forth on her “white board” and discussing work, family, politics, news, etc. When asked how she could be so peaceful facing death, Susan’s strong Catholic faith remained her guide. She had prayed for a good death, and had confessed. She knew where she was going: to be with God in Heaven.

There are few people in one’s life that make such an impact and Susan was that person. You knew what she thought and whether she agreed with you, but you also knew she was loyal and loving, and never let a disagreement get in the way of that love. She was a true Christian woman who honored God, her family, and friends. Susan’s laughter and strong political opinions will be missed, and her impact will remain with her family.

Susan is pre-deceased by her parents, John and Clarice Dockendorff, and her ex- husband Bill Thurber. She is survived by her sister, Julie Cihock, brother-in- law Art Cihock, her son, William Todd Thurber, daughter, Elizabeth Thurber-Kimes, daughter in-law, Kelly Ann Thurber, son-in-law Bil Kimes, granddaughter, Melissa Ann Thurber, and numerous nieces and nephews.

“It is not Death that will come to fetch me, it is the good God. Death is no phantom, no horrible specter, as presented in pictures. In the catechism it is stated that death is the separation of soul and body, that is all! Well, I am not afraid of a separation which will unite me to the good God forever.” – St. Therese of Lisieux

Friends are invited to visitation with the family on Thursday, October 7, 2021 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, with recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 pm in The Hunters Creek Chapel at Earthman Funeral Directors, 8303 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77024. A mass of christian burial will occur Friday, October 8, 2021 at 3:00 PM at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Church, 7809 Shadyvilla Lane, Houston, TX 77055.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.earthmanhunterscreek.com for the THURBER family.

In lieu of usual remembrances, donations may be made in Susan’s name to The Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Church, 7809 Shadyvilla Lane, Houston, TX 77055.