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.