Susan Berryman Papa, devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully after a nine week battle with cancer on August 28, 2023. She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, caring for others, a love of both people and animals, and many good memories.
Born on December 5, 1949 in Corpus Christi, Texas, Susan was the daughter of Marion and Vivian Berryman. She spent her formative years in a loving family environment before attending college at Stephen F. Austin University. After university, she met her husband Mark in Corpus Christi where they were married in 1970. Susan and Mark had a wonderful 53 year marriage. Soon after marriage, Mark’s oil career took them to Dubai, where they lived for four years. During that time they traveled the world as a young couple visiting Africa multiple times, Thailand, Greece, Sri Lanka, and many other locations. In 1976 they returned to Houston where their only child Christine was born. Susan transitioned into a full-time mother, became a strong tennis player, an avid photographer, and entered into multiple philanthropic endeavors. She became an especially active supporter of Texas Children’s Hospital and Casa de Esperanza. A lifelong animal lover, Susan also became an avid supporter and photographer of wild mustangs and supported groups such as Return to Freedom, a group that adopts wild horses. In her later years Susan transitioned into a grandmother and took great joy from her grandchildren, Dylan and Zachary. Along with son-in-law Jay, family gatherings were frequent and always happy.
Susan is survived by her husband Mark, daughter Christine, son-in-law Jay, grandchildren Dylan and Zachary, brother-in-law Tim, sisters-in-law Maureen and Bev, and a sister Marianne.
A Dedication of Life Event will be held from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. on Friday, September 8, 2023 at The Settegast-Kopf Company at Sugar Creek Funeral Home, 15015 SW FWY, Sugar Land, TX 77478. A private ceremony at the cemetery will occur on September 9th.
The family wishes to extend a note of gratitude to the staff at M.D. Anderson who took special care of Susan during her hospital stay.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Susan's name to: Return to Freedom, Wild Horse Conservation, or Texas Children's Hospital.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.settegastkopf.com for the Papa family.
