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Suzanne Marie Lazar, was born at Emanuel Hospital on September 20, 1961 within one minute of her twin brother, Edward, the youngest child of John and Julia Lazar. Suzanne grew up north of Turlock on her family's walnut ranch and attended Keyes Elementary School through the 4th Grade when her family moved to a home near Crane Park. She was a student at Julien Elementary School, Brown Junior High School, and Turlock High School. She attended California State University Stanislaus. During her youth, she enjoyed playing with her brothers, Michael and John, and along with Ed always participated in their football, baseball, and basketball games on the farm. She loved caring for the pets, especially their cats. She would nurse infant birds when they'd fall from their nest, try to save chickens if they wandered onto the farm after being dropped from a Foster Farms truck on the highway, and training and playing with the family dog -- in those days, named Lassie. She loved roller skating, riding bikes, & making mud pies. Suzanne was enrolled in ballet for a while and had piano lessons. On Sundays, the family attended Sunday School at St. Francis Episcopal Church. Her aunt, Joan Thomas, was instrumental in her spiritual growth within the church. Suzanne joined the church choir with her aunt and continued to attend there until her final days. Sundays also meant Sunday dinner after church at Aunt Joan's, or Oanie, as she was known. Cousins Nancy and Norman's family always hosted, especially barbecues in their back yard with swimming in the dough boy pool. This is where Suzanne learned to swim. A special treat was when her Uncle Abel's family and daughters, Michelle and Marlene frequently visited the farm. The same age, the girls and the boys did what young kids do on a farm, play, get dirty and in trouble with their parents. Her father ran errands with the kids in the back bed of his red 1950 GMC when the weather permitted. She loved it! Summertime was filled with fun in the Turlock sunshine: bible school at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, summer school at Cunningham or Crowell School, and swimming at Columbia pool with her brothers. Julia, Suzanne's mother, made sure the kids were always active with matinees at the Turlock Theater, Crane Park playdays, Modesto shopping trips, and visits to their family in San Francisco many times through the year. Summertime also brought visitors from San Francisco to Turlock. Turlock was a super special place in the 1960's and 1970's. Shopping was only available in downtown Turlock. There was only one movie theater, two bowling alleys and Stanislaus State was known as Turkey Tech. The family phone system was a dial only party line system that had to be shared with neighbors where you had to wait for a clear line to talk. Television had three stations with reception by an antenna only. Suzanne loved San Francisco and family there. She was especially fond of her Aunt Nellie, Cousins Anita, Bobby, Arthur, and Eddie. Suzanne loved visiting and vacationing in the City. She was always super spoiled by her relatives. Never tired of going to the zoo on Sloat Blvd., or taking the street car downtown shopping at the Emporium, or heading to the Ocean Beach in the fog to run from the waves with her Dad and brothers -it was always fun entertainment. Aunt Nellie had dinner waiting when they returned. · Suzanne's Auntie Oanie (Joan Thomas) owned a beauty salon in Turlock where she enjoyed helping out as a little girl. She visited with the patrons and helped them get beautified. She liked to look at all the magazines, put her name of the ones she wanted for herself after new additions arrived. Her favorite was "Gourmet" magazine, and so began her interest in baking and cooking. Suzanne enjoyed high school and was active in sports and extracurricular activities. Swim team, volleyball, tennis and track to name a few. She was a spirit leader, loved school rallies, and football and basketball games. She continued to stay in touch with many of her high school friends and participated in all the high school reunions, including their recent 40th Reunion. The Assyrian American Civic Club of Turlock was a big part of Suzanne's life. She enjoyed Assyrian Folk Dancing and was a choreographer to their dance troupe. She was active in their youth group and organized many fundraisers to establish a new youth center building located across from Donnelly Park. She developed a profound appreciation for her Assyrian heritage and family history that continued throughout her life. She later served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Assyrian American Civic Club. Suzanne also loved the Stanislaus County Fair. Her cousin, Nancy, hired her to work in the fair office during her high school years. It turned into a lifetime affection for the fair. Governor Gray Davis appointed her in the 1990's to serve as a board member. Suzanne was also a political dynamo. She was instrumental in the political campaigns of her brother John, first for a vacant state assembly seat in 1989 and later his campaigns for Turlock City Council and Mayor. Each time she walked precincts and organized fundraisers. He credits her for his political success. Suzanne was the Senior Credentials Analyst for the Stanislaus County Office of Education. She joined SCOE in 1990 and had planned to retire in April. Suzanne organized a Teacher Recruitment Job Fair every Spring. Suzanne is survived by her mother, Julia Lazar. Her brothers, Michael (Donna), John (Nellie), and Edward (Charmaine). She is preceded in death by her father, John, and sister, Susan Sophia. Suzanne is also survived by seven nephews: Michael, Vincent, Nicholas, Andrew, David, Alexander, and Christopher. She leaves behind many close family, friends, and neighbors. Among those are her loving cousins, Anita and Robert Eshoo, Nancy Goodman, Ron Sargis, Marlene Lazar, Michelle Lazar, and Mark Lazar. Very dear to her was her dog, Lassie, and cat, Mota. Remembrances may be sent to The Suzanne M. Lazar Memorial Fund, Legacy Health Endowment, 2881 Geer Road, Ste. A, Turlock, CA 95380 or to the Turlock Animal Shelter, 244 N Broadway Avenue, Turlock, CA 95380.

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Suzanne Lazar

September 20, 1961 - February 3, 2023