Susan Nancy Schwarz, 78

Susan Nancy Schwarz died Sunday, March 21, 2010, at age 78, at home, in her Zen room, with family at her side. She was born Oct. 23, 1931, in Manhattan, N.Y., and then lived in California and Montana; Whitefish was her home for 31 years. Susan is survived by her husband of 42 years, Charles Milton Schwarz; and her eight children, David of Venice, Calif., Diana of Tucson, Ariz., Daniel and Jolene of Whitefish and Missoula, Derek and Barb of Bigfork, Duncan and Sally of Penn Valley and Rough and Ready, Calif., Suzie and Frosty of Victorville, Calif., Scott and Ruthie of Palmdale, Calif., and Glenn and Danette of Medford, Ore. Susan had 19 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Nancy, and Bill, Mills; her dear friends, Anne S. Moran, Phyllis S. Shaw, Linda Kuhlmann Wells, Chyral Berney, William and Carolyn McKinney, and many other friends and co-workers too numerous to mention. Susan was preceded in death by her adoptive parents, Hubert Charles and Ethel Carolyn Rausch; and her natural mother, Genevieve M. Guitard Davis. Susan was an amazing, remarkable woman. She was a beloved spouse, mother and friend, lifelong learner and teacher, survivor, warrior, mentor and angel. Susan attended Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, graduating in 1949, and then put herself through Los Angeles City College to achieve an Associate of Science degree in nursing (1964). She eventually earned her registered nurses degree, working as a nurse in California and Montana. From 1982 to 1992, she was employed at Big Mountain as a ski school instructor, obtaining her Level 2 Certification. In addition, Susan was a United States Forest Service skiing volunteer. She worked from 1992 to 2007 at the Violence Free Crisis Line/Flathead Justice Center, as a victim witness advocate. In May 2001 Susan was honored by the Attorney General of Montana, Mike McGrath, for providing outstanding assistance and advocacy for victims of crime. Her end of life care was managed by Home Options Hospice and Agape Home Care; the Agape In-home Care givers were also three amazing, remarkable women: Jeri, Wanda and Tiffany. A memorial gathering for local friends and family will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. this Saturday, March 27, at her home (665 Haskill Basin Road) in Whitefish. Another gathering will be scheduled for summer 2010. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Home Options Hospice at 175 Commons Loop, Suite 100, Kalispell, MT 59901. Austin Funeral Home is assisting the family.