Azucena Alcira Hadzeriga

Hadzeriga announces her peaceful passing on June 30, 2025.

Born September 30, 1929, in Argentina to Italian immigrants, Sue was a woman of remarkable

talent, resilience, and joy. A proud graduate at University in Buenos Aires, she earned her

Professor of Sculpture and carried her passion for creativity and culture throughout her life.

In 1957, as a newlywed with her beloved husband Dr. Pablo Hadzeriga, Ph.D. (1929–1997),

Sue journeyed to the United States through Ellis Island. Together, they began building a new

life, raising three cherished children: Pablo Hadzeriga, Jr. (1959), Madeleine C. (Tugman)

(1960), and Anthony R. “Tony” Hadzeriga (1961).

Sue's story is woven with vibrant chapters — each rich with laughter, discovery, and tireless

devotion to her family. She approached motherhood as both an art and a calling. Her days were

filled with the rhythms of family life: ferrying children to swimming lessons, soccer games,

piano practice, and ski slopes like Arapahoe Basin, Winter Park, Eldora, and Geneva Basin.

She never missed a moment to encourage, teach, or support, shaping her children with love,

kindness, and a belief in being their best selves.

Whether hosting elaborate dinner parties, working in her garden, painting at her easel, or

manning the outdoor grill, Sue was a warm and magnetic presence. She was best known for her

culinary talents — especially her beloved oven-baked empanadas and Italian milanesas — and

her ability to make everyone feel at home. She delighted in introducing guests, often by name,

and infused every gathering with humor, generosity, and unfiltered honesty. Sue was

unapologetically herself: creative, forgiving, humorous, light-hearted, and deeply genuine.

She was also a legendary grandmother — not by proclamation, but by example. She leaves

behind a devoted family who cherished her dearly:

Her children: Pablo (& Jenette Settle), Madeleine (& Pat Tugman), and Anthony.

Her grandchildren (by age): Randi (& Kevin Kennedy), Marshall (& Jerry McLarty), Devon

(& Jeff Rice), Shelby, Henry, Josie (& Thomas Merrick), Thomas, and Cole.

And one great-grandchild, whom she was thrilled to meet and hold: Della Sue Rice, born April

5, 2025, creating a precious four-generation memory.

Sue’s life was one of vibrancy, generosity, and unforgettable spirit. She leaves behind a legacy of

love, laughter, and recitable memories that will be shared for generations.

At Sue’s request, the family will honor her extraordinary life — and that of her late husband,

Pablo Sr. — with a celebration in the summer/fall of 2026 among the rocky, cool slopes and

alpine tundra flowers of Mt. Blue Sky, Colorado.