Susan “Susie” Beth Parra
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Susan “Susie” Beth Parra (nee Schnable) on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.The youngest of 17 children, Susie was born on August 27, 1964 in Washington, MO to the late Lester and Rita Schnable (nee Siebert). She lived for the thrill of life and found joy in flower gardens, classic rock music, Cardinals baseball, pasta, White Russian cocktails, and lottery scratch-off tickets. Above all else, Susie loved her large family and treasured her children, grandchildren, and cat, Tilly.
She lived a life that knew both joy and hardship, and her family was an enduring part of her story. In her final chapter, she was blessed with something precious: the gift of reconciliation, forgiveness, and the unwavering love of her children. Those final days became a testament to grace—a reminder that love is stronger than past hurts and that healing is possible even at life’s end.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister Sharon Kissel, her sister-in-law Norma Schnable, and her brothers-in-law Jeff Banderet, Ronnie Day, and Bob Burgard. She is survived by her former husband Joe Parra, her children Abby Stamm (Jack), Brendan Parra (Kristin), and Brett Parra (Kelsey), her step-daughter Nicole Donnelly (Paul), her grandchildren Carson, Ellie, and Griffin, siblings, Jack Schnable, Georgine Pratt (Kenny), Eileen Day, Claire Patterson (Dan), Fred Schnable (Diane), Sidney Schnable (Betty), Mary-ann Yochim (Rich), Jimmy Schnable (Denise), Mark Schnable (Pam), Leon Schnable (Mary), Gina Burgard, Renee Banderet, Dennis Schnable (Cindy), Donna Dombrowski (Alan), and Gail Peters (John), brother-in-law Dave Kissel, along with many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and friends.As Christians, we take comfort in knowing that she has been made whole. The burdens she carried in this life have been lifted and she now rests in the loving presence of Jesus Christ. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 11:00AM at Rooftop Church, 9217 Gravois Road, St. Louis, MO 63123. Family will begin receiving attendees an hour prior to the start of the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to honor her memory to donate to the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers but early detection significantly improves survivability beyond 5 years. Like so many others, Susie sucummbed to this devastating disease mere months after diagnosis.
Above all else, the family hopes that readers of this obituary will extend grace and forgiveness to someone they love, just as Susie experienced in her final days. While her journey was not always easy, those who loved her will remember the strength, resilience, and determination that carried her through life’s challenges. Her story was not defined by its hardest chapters. By God’s grace, it was defined by its final one—a chapter filled with love, forgiveness, and peace.
Beautiful! Perfect!
Enjoyed many good memories with Susie! She will be missed.
Susie always had a smile whenever I saw her. She will be missed but I know she is still smiling. She well deserves the love and peace that is now with her.
This was the most beautiful obituary I have ever read! Beautifully written! Susie would have loved it. Sending our prayers, love and deepest condolences to all of your family!
Claire and family, My heart is breaking for you all. So sorry for your loss. But comfort in knowing shes not in pain any longer. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers
I am so very sorry to hear of her passing and I am sending all who loved and knew her my very deepest sympathy and prayers!
So sorry for your loss. 17 kids in the family – we thought we had a lot at 5. I can still hear her snorty laugh in my head from knowing her in high school.
Susie and I go way back, we went to school together. All these years we have shared the same birthday. Except she was one year younger than me. I enjoy all her posts about her love for flowers and gardening. I’m going to miss her beautiful picture posts on Facebook. Fly high Susie and enjoy all the beautiful flowers up in heaven. 🕊️
I loved my sister through thickness and thin. She was always my sidekick and never let her or wanted to let her suffer in life. I will truly miss her.
I loved my sister through thickness and thin. She was always my sidekick and never let her or wanted to let her suffer in life. I will truly miss her. I kissed her and asked for her to tell mom and dad hello.
So sorry to hear this. Had no idea she was sick.
Grateful to read about the forgiveness and reconciliation in her life.
Praying for the family.
I didn’t really know her as an adult, but I always will cherish the memories of us as kids growing up.
Sue was a friend and I did her hair trimming.She was always very sweet and respectful. I told her many times she needed to go home with her family. I knew she wasn’t doing well with her health. I’m very sorry that we lost her. I am sending prayers and love for all family and friends.R.I.P. My friend.
We loved our youngest cousin, Susie. She will missed and always part of our memories of family fun.
Nancy, Larry, and Carol
We had breakfast with Abby’s family, including Susie. She was so sweet and introduced us to her cherished cat, Lilly. We sat outside with her for a while and chatted. She remembered us from when our girls were in grade school, around 30 years ago. She will be missed by Abby and her family so much!
This obituary was beautifully written!!
We had breakfast with Abby’s family, including Susie. She was so sweet and introduced us to her cherished cat, Lilly. We sat outside with her for a while and chatted. She remembered us from when our girls were in grade school, around 30 years ago. She will be missed by Abby and her family so much!
This obituary was beautifully written!!
I will miss you, Susie, I will always remember the fun and laughter we all shared.
May you rest in peace in God’s arm.
Love you!
So very sorry to hear this. How perfect and fitting this is! I have fond memories of our conversations past. My heart and prayers go out to Susie’s family. May you find comfort and peace through family and friends. My sincere condolences, Peggy Blackwell
To her sisters, Gail & Claire, and the rest of her family & friends, I extend my sincere condolences and wish peace to all. May loving memories carry you through your grief.
To her sisters, Gail & Claire, and the rest of her family & friends, I extend my sincere condolences and wish peace to all. May loving memories carry you through your grief.
Sincere condolences to her family and friends. Prayers for comfort and peace. God’s Blessings 🙏
RIP FREIND
I met Sue when she came to Hannibal. Got to know her well. She had a lot of friends here in Hannibal, that are missing her. She loved flowers! R. I. P. Sue.
I will love and miss you forever Susie, I hope to see you in heaven someday you have a beautiful soul.
Prayers for her entire family. I am sorry to hear about her illness. As her youngest cousin on the Siebert side (and there were a lot of us), she was a lot of fun to be around when we were able to visit and she always made me feel welcome. 💙
We watered so sorry to hear about your family’s loss of Susie. Please accept our condolences.
Claire, I remember little Susie… I was at your home in Antonia when your parents came home with groceries. It was like an assembly line of everyone carrying in sacks of food. Even little Susie had a box of cereal almost bigger than she was. I’m so very sorry for your loss. Sending hugs and prayers to you and your family. ❤️🙏
Going to Aunt Rita’s and Uncle Lester’s was always something we looked forward to when we were kids. Susie was the closest to me in age and we would always get to walk down to the little store by their house and get penny bubblegum and candy. Susie would be my protector and would yell at Gail because she was being mean to me. Leon, Dennis, Donna, Gail, Susie, Mike, Lori, Dale, Jeanne, and I would all congregate in the basement, listen to Styx (The Grand Illusion) on the record player, watch the fish in the aquarium, and joke around with each other. I think Jennifer was too young to get to be in the basement with us. I will always cherish those memories. I have also been through some pretty rough times in my life and hope that all my family and friends have forgiven me, just as Susie’s has forgiven her. When there is despair in our lives, there are decisions we make that are not always good.