Suzanne E. Durnford

Following a courageous 6-month battle with Ovarian Cancer, Suzanne Elizabeth Durnford (nee Schwaner) passed into the arms of Our Lord on April 19, 2019.

Suzie was born in Albuquerque, NM on October 9, 1967 to Clyde ""Fred"" and Margaret Schwaner (nee Cronin). She was a standout youth baseball, basketball, and soccer player. She attended Annunciation Grade School and graduated from St. Pius Catholic High School in 1985. Suzie left Albuquerque for Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO where she met John Durnford and their new joint adventure began. While at CSU, she studied Dietetics. John and Suzie were married on August 5th, 1989. In December of that year, they moved to Sacramento, California where John's Air Force career started and would send them on a journey around the world. Over the next two years, they celebrated the births of their two children John ""J.P."" and Margaret.

Their journeys in the Air Force took them far and wide, including Alaska, Japan and several state-side assignments. Suzie made sure that through all of these moves, her family was always lovingly taken care of. She loved camping and fishing in the great Alaskan outdoors, all the while sharing this love with her children. In Japan, she made sure to make the best of being 2000 miles away from home by being an active member in the spousal groups and cultural exchange on base. When she wasn't busy chasing her kids around the swimming pools, soccer and baseball fields, she also found joy in teaching English to Japanese defense force members and several Japanese families. Suzie seemed to have a knack for teaching that she began to develop even more while becoming highly involved in her church and its religious education program. This would be something she would then carry on the rest of her life, not only with children, but also with adults.

As John's active duty career came to an end in Belleville, Illinois, Suzie dreamed of moving back to the state that she dearly loved, Colorado. When the opportunity finally came, the family was able to make that dream a reality in November of 2015. Suzie was able to live once again near family and friends up and down the I-25 corridor. She was especially thrilled to be back near her beloved mountains. She was able to spend time once again enjoying the Lord's creation in the great outdoors with her family. Before becoming ill, Suzie was by John's side, helping him with his cadets in the JROTC program he still currently is in charge of.

Suzie was preceded in death by her father Fred Schwaner. She is survived by her mother, Margaret Schwaner; her husband, John; their children, J.P. and Margaret; her brothers: Eric (Shari), Mark (Melanie), Jeff (Marie), Brian ""B.J."" (Debbie), and Brad (Jill); along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and John's extended family.

Visitation will be Sunday, April 28, 6-7pm followed by a Rosary at 7pm, both at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 9998 Grant Street, Thornton.

Funeral Mass will be Monday, April 29,2019, 10:30am at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 11385 Grant Drive, Northglenn.

Committal Service will be Tuesday, April 30, 2019, 12pm at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 12801 West 44th Avenue, Wheat Ridge.

In lieu of flowers, we request donations be sent to the John Paul II Medical Research Institute at www.jp2mri.org specifically for cancer research.

Please share your memories of Suzanne and condolences with her family by signing the guestbook below.

Visitation: April 28, 2019 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Horan & McConaty - Metro North/Thornton
9998 Grant Street
Thornton, CO 80229

Recitation of the Rosary : April 28, 2019 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Horan & McConaty - Metro North/Thornton
9998 Grant Street
Thornton, CO 80229

Funeral Mass: April 29, 2019 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church
11385 Grant Drive
Northglenn, CO 80233
303-452-2041
http://www.ihmco.org/

Reception: April 29, 2019 11:30 am

Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church
11385 Grant Drive
Northglenn, CO 80233
303-452-2041
http://www.ihmco.org/

Committal Service: April 30, 2019 12:00 pm

Mount Olivet Cemetery
12801 W. 44th Ave.
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033