Susana Rivera Mendiola of San Antonio, Texas, died peacefully in her home on December 2, 2023, surrounded by friends and family. She was 89 years old. Susie was born on August 1, 1934, in Gonzales, Texas. Susie graduated second in her class from Gonzales High School and starred on the school's basketball and volleyball teams.  Susie was selected as a delegate to the prestigious Texas Girls State. At eighteen, she moved to San Antonio to attend business school and, in 1956, married Jimmie Mendiola. A devout Catholic, Susie was an active parishioner at St. John Berchmans, coaching girls' CYO volleyball and basketball teams. After moving to the Monte Vista neighborhood, Susie joined Our Lady of Grace Church, where she sang in the church choir. Her favorite singer was Nat King Cole.

Susie began her career in civil service at Ft. Sam Houston and continued at Kelly Air Force Base, where she worked for thirty years, advancing from secretarial duties to her final position leading a team in materiel management, a mission responsible for the upkeep of the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, the largest military aircraft in the world. During Susie's tenure, the C-5 supported US military operations, distributed humanitarian aid across the globe, and supported the US space program. Susie was proud of her career at Kelly, her vital work keeping the C-5 flying, and the many lifelong friends she made at the base.

In retirement, Susie traveled extensively, often with her best friend, Mary Alice Solis. As a child, she worked in the cotton fields of Gonzales County, Texas; as an adult, she visited the canals of Venice, the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, and the Basilica St. Michael in Salzburg, Austria, the site of the wedding scene in The Sound of Music, one of her favorite films.

Susie was a talented gardener, baker, and founding member of the Sew and Sews, her quilting group. Over the years Susie made dozens of quilts for friends and family.

An avid fan of the San Antonio Spurs, one of Susie's life highlights was riding in a barge during the team's 2007 championship river parade.

Susie was preceded in death by her parents, Maria and Juan Rivera, and brothers, Jesse and Eliseo Rivera.

Susie is survived by her children, Jimmy Mendiola (Faith Radle), Joel Mendiola, Jerry Mendiola (Tina), and Angela Hamilton (Douglas); grandchildren Anastasia, Stephanie, Jude, Jocelyn, Morgan, Inara, William, Aidan, and Maxine; and brother Juan Rivera.  Susie was also godmother to 17 children.

MEMORIAL SERVICES

Monday, December 18, 2023

A Rosary will be recited at 7:00 pm

The Angelus Funeral Home

1119 N. St Mary's Street.

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Funeral Mass will be offered at 10:30 am

Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church

223 E. Summit Avenue.

A reception will immediately follow.

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

In place of flowers, the family asks for donations to the

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's research.

In Tribute | Parkinson's Disease (michaeljfox.org)