Susan Elizabeth Lazar (September 18, 1943-January 25, 2024)

Susan Lazar, 80 of Munster, IN passed away peacefully Thursday, January 25, 2024. Susan was born in Griffith, Indiana to the late Clarence and Willamine (Tompkins) Schreiner. She was lucky to share her happy childhood with her two sisters, Karen Joyce (Terrence Joyce) and Lynn Ogle (Richard Ogle), giggling, walking on homemade stilts, and vacationing across the country. She was a graduate of Griffith High School (1961), and Ball State University (1965) where she earned her Bachelor’s degree as a Speech Language Pathologist. She enjoyed a fulfilling career, retiring from Nathan Hale Elementary School in Whiting, Indiana (2014).

Susan met her lifelong partner, friend and husband, J. Dan Lazar when they were 12 years old in Griffith. Sharing a marriage (November 1965) many called the “lifelong honeymoon”, they settled in Munster, IN after living in Hawaii and Venezuela. They raised two children, JD Lazar of Hammond, IN and Dana Stewart (Trent Stewart) of Indianapolis, IN. Travels as a family and couple included awe-inspiring visits to Oregon, Italy, and Germany.

Susan (aka “Mimi”) lavished love and time on her grandson, Landon Stewart. She created memories of Chicago museum experiences, South Shore train rides, and attending sporting events that brought her such joy during her retirement.

Susan lit up when she was surrounded by those she loved, including a lifetime of friends. Her bright smile shone most when hosting friends or family dinners; playing board games (try to beat her at Boggle!), making lasagna and sharing belly laughs at family reunions; or snowplowing at 1 mph down an easy Michigan ski slope with her friend laughing while the kids zipped by. Simply being together was Susan’s greatest joy. It didn’t matter what the activity was; it just mattered that you were there. Susan was preceded in death by her father, Clarence Schreiner and mother, Willamine Schreiner Tompkins.

Funeral Services will be held on February 24, 2024 (11:00 a.m-3:00 p.m.) with a celebration of life ceremony at 1:00 p.m. at Kish Funeral Home 10000 Calumet Ave. Munster, IN. Feel free to wear colors that remind you of Susan.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to Alzheimer’s Association or Lewy Body Dementia Association will be greatly appreciated.

To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of Susan Elizabeth Lazar, please visit our Tribute Store.