Gwendolyn Annette Lawson

August 20, 1975 – September 7, 2015

Gwendolyn Annette Lawson (Gwen), 40, of San Antonio, Texas passed from this life on September 7, 2015 at Mystic Park Rehabilitation Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Gwen died from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (A. L. S.) or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Gwen was born August 20, 1975 in Seoul, South Korea at Severance Hospital to JL and Yong Suk Lawson. While the family was stationed in Germany, Gwen attended Atterberry American Elementary School in Frankfurt, Germany. Upon entering the United States, the family was assigned to Ft. Sam Houston, Texas and moved to Converse Texas. Gwen attended Judson Independent School District including Kitty Hawk Jr High and Judson High School. Gwen was a proud member of the 1987 Kitty Hawk Jr High basketball team that won the State Championship (10-0). During high school, Gwen was a member of the Judson Satellites and later the Starlites.

After graduating high school she attended San Antonio College and obtained her Pharmacy Technician Certification. She started working for Walgreens Pharmacy in 1995 until 2013 when could no longer work due to A. L. S. During her years with the company she received many awards for her outstanding job performance and made friends of her customers because of her outgoing personality; friends that would call in to inquire about her health and even bring her favorite foods to her until she could no longer eat solid foods.

Gwen loved the holidays and designated Thanksgiving as the Lawson’s Day. We had several neighbors who had no family with whom to spend the holidays. Gwen baked pumpkin pies and cookies to take to them on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentines. On their birthday, they also received a card and small gift. Gwen started doing this at age 10 and continued until she was no longer able due to A. L. S. Gwendolyn always decorated for the holidays and she and her children Alexander and Hannah would visit Pumpkin Patch, Santa Claus, and the Poteet Strawberry Festival for new decorations or ideas on decorating. Her home was a wonderland, taking us several days or weeks to decorate inside and out. Gwen passed down to her children, Alexander and Hannah the value of love, compassion for the less fortunate and the warmth of fellowship.

Gwen was always involved in Alexander and Hannah’s lives; involving herself in their sports, arts and crafts or whatever they were doing as their biggest supporter. She continued this throughout the period of her illness, from a walker, to a wheelchair, then when confined to her bed. She had a beautiful smile and her brown eyes would twinkle like the lights on a Christmas tree – so beautiful when she would learn of her children’s daily activities.

As Gwen’s death approached, Hannah told me, “Grandpa, I want to help with my mother’s funeral.” And she did, from picking out her mother’s niche, funeral urn, and what services she and her mother wanted for the funeral. Though Gwen was bed ridden, voice almost gone, they had a ball. Both knew it was a going home celebration for Gwen and they treated it as such.

Gwendolyn is survived by her parents, Yong Suk and JL Lawson; her children, Alexander JL Lawson and Hannah Lawson Cruz; her siblings, Eun Nam Pak (Sam) and William J Lawson; by her extended family, God Parents, Steve and Leticia M. Cruz; God siblings Brandon S. Cruz and Christian N. Cruz and Grandmother Mary M. Cruz. She is also survived by uncles, aunts and cousins from Searcy, Arkansas and Carrollton, Texas.

We want to thank all the friends that have helped Gwen. A special thank you to Dr. David W. Talafuse and his staff, who loved Gwen and showed it in so many ways; to the A. L. S. Foundation for their support; the Children’s Bereavement Center and Ms. Laura; To Dr. Carlayne Jackson, A. L. S., researcher and nurse Pamela Kittrell and all the staff at the MARC building; to the Mystic Park Rehabilitation Center and to Maria, Su Hey, Nida, and all the staff. A very special thank you to Gwen’s Aunt Melissa V. Lawson of Searcy, Arkansas. After Gwen’s diagnosis, Melissa would visit up to three weeks at a time to help with Gwen and her family. Melissa made the 620 mile trip with a smile and a van full of wonderful food from her friend Rose Elliot Gay and husband Randall. A special thank you to Gwen’s God Parents, Steve, Leticia M. Cruz and family for being there for Gwen throughout her final year and for giving Gwen the love, spiritual guidance and peace of mind that Hannah will always be loved and well taken care of.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 17, 2015 from 5:00pm - 9:00pm with a Rosary recited at 7:00pm at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home, 6321 Bandera Road, San Antonio, Texas 78238.

Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Friday, at 11:00am, at Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church, 15415 Red Robin Rd., San Antonio, Texas 78255.

Her remains will be cremated and at a later date in a private service will be entombed at Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Chapel, 15415 Red Robin Road, San Antonio, Texas 78255

In lieu of flowers, a Memorial Contribution can be made to Hannah Lawson Cruz for her education through Frost Bank.