Suzanne Riebschlager

She died Jan. 27, 2019 at Houston Hospice after a short battle with cancer.

She was born Jan. 8, 1956 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Connie and Raymond Zurawski. Following graduation from Union High School in Grand Rapids, she attended Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. After earning an undergraduate degree, she moved to Houston, the first in her family to boldly move out of state and step out into the world. Armed with her design portfolio, she landed a job as an interior designer, a career which she followed with a passion for helping others find just the right piece of furniture or accessory to make a perfect setting.

For many years, she worked as design director and vice president of interiors at SLI Group Inc. in Houston.

In Sugar Land, Sue formed lifelong friendships with neighbors who had young children. They shared many good times through a baby-sitting co-op that evolved into a family through the years. Sue's "Bunco girls" were there through good and bad times for her.

Always one to give, she volunteered countless hours for Little League baseball and the Austin Parkway PTA raising numerous funds through her innovative events and creative artwork.

The best cook in the family, Sue was the hostess for holiday and birthday gatherings at her Sugar Land home. She loved to bake and gift her friends with goodies especially at Christmas time.

In the fall of 2011, she and her friend David Moreno came up with an idea for a creative venture. She combined her love of travel, photography, college life and design when they subsequently co-founded wordinpictures, a company which created special keepsakes for people. Sue loved attending sporting events - she was an avid Michigan State University fan - and touring campuses to take photos to incorporate in the keepsakes she made. The company opened an opportunity to participate in art shows throughout Texas as well as expand her travels. Their testimonials included a thank-you letter from George Bush.

She was preceded in death by her father, Raymond V. Zurawski. Those who survive Sue and celebrate her life are her mother Connie Zurawski, Grand Rapids, Michigan; her son and daughter-in-law Matthew and Ashley Riebschlager of Sugar Land, Texas; daughter and son-in-law Jessica and Igor Kwiatkowski of Tacoma, Washington; son and daughter-in-law Spencer and Stacie Riebschlager of Dallas, Texas; Gary Riebschlager, friend and former spouse, of Houston, Texas; sister Karen Zurawski of Katy, Texas; brother Steven Zurawski of Grand Rapids, Michigan; and brother Greg Zurawski of Chicago, Illinois; and eight grand-children.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Suzanne Riebschlager Design Scholarship. Donation envelopes will be available at the viewing and funeral.

Online Donations: https://givingto.msu.edu/gift/?sid=390