Ivonne Elicia Samuda

Ivonne Elicia Samuda (Hurdle) was born in building 1048 in 9th St. between Melendez & St. Elizabeth Ave. in Colon City, Panama, on Tuesday, August 31, 1948. Born to Wilfred Samuda (RIP) & Millicent Hurdle Samuda (RIP), she was the 4th daughter of 5 children of this marriage.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her older brother Leslie (RIP) and sister Norma (RIP).

Ivonne started her first studies at Porfirio Melendez primary school, then she went to Jose Guardia Vega secondary School at her first year, changing over to a private cutting & sewing school where she graduated and turn in to an excellent professional making women’s clothing apparel, curtains, and other home design details.

Ivonne married Rolando Young (RIP) on September 7, 1968, at the age of 20, in St. Joseph Parish in Colon, Panama. Ivonne traveled to meet him after he completed his military service for the United States Army; and they formalized their home in Brooklyn, New York and conceived their only daughter Yazmin. They later divorced in 2000.

Ivonne shared her talents working in a daycare, when she arrived in New York. She then landed a job at Merrill Lynch & Co in the Computing Department of the Investment Firm in Wall Street where she worked for 14 years. In the years on or around 1993-1994, Ivonne enrolled in a data entry training program with America Works.

Ivonne was a devout Catholic and was very committed to her Catholic faith. Ivonne received six sacraments throughout her lifetime: baptism, the Eucharist, confirmation, reconciliation (confession), marriage and anointing of the sick. Ivonne was a part of Cursillo De Colores an apostolic group movement. Ivonne took and Experiment the Christian Catholic Course; as a laywoman, Catechist, a Lector, an Usher, Saturday school religious instructor, Extraordinary Minister of Communion, anointing of the sick and a temple & altar cleaner. During mass, Ivonne would always have some role in church service. Ivonne was a very faithful donor of many charity projects and an assiduous assistant to the daily mass in the parishes near all her homes from Colon city, Panama, New York and San Antonio, Texas. When she could, she would try to attend church daily and especially on Sunday. When she could not physically attend church service, she would watch it on religious Catholic Station EWTN or listen to it on Radio Maria. In October 2009, Ivonne traveled with a Radio Maria group, to Portugal to see Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima.

Ivonne was crowned the name “Bayah” by her believed grandson Dorien and she was proud to carry the name, so much so that, new people were introduced to her did not know her actual name. Though challenges and disappointments of life made her very reserved, distrustful, withdrawn and she choose to keep herself from everyone most of the time. Ivonne, loved deeply and profoundly. Ivonne was also very cheerful, loved to sing, dance, and be in support of everyone, especially; family and friends.

On Friday, March 1, 2024, Ivonne, age 75, she left this earth to be with her bride groom and she is survived by; Yazmin Young Samuda Jerome, her daughter; Stanley Jerome, her son in law; Dorien and Tatyana, her grandchildren. Rupert Samuda, her older brother & her sisters: Marva, Diana and Vilma Samuda. Seven nephews: Rogelio, Leslie, Robert, Reginald, Derick, Dalfonso, Reinaldo & 5 nieces: Juana, Beverly, Bianca, Yvette, Samantha. Many cousins. Few God sons and God daughters.

The Jerome & Samuda family would like to take this time to give special thanks and extend our gratitude to everyone for all the calls, texts, prayers, cards, Instagram, Whatsapp, Facebook post.

In Lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made by donation to St. Monica Catholic Church located at 501 North Street, Converse, TX 78109-1209.

A funeral mass for Ivonne will be celebrated Monday, March 18, 2024 from 10:00a.m. to 11:00a.m. at St Monica Catholic Church, 501 North St, Converse, TX 78109. Following the funeral mass will be a graveside service from 12:00p.m. to 12:30p.m. at Meadowlawn Memorial Park, Inc., 5611 E Houston St, San Antonio, TX 78220.