Suzanne Mary Tancred Newman Schrand

1933 – 2019

Suzanne Mary Tancred passed away peacefully in her Kettering home on the morning of March 13, 2019, just 2 days after celebrating her 86th birthday. She was born on March 11, 1933 in Dayton, OH to Rosella Marie (Hodapp) and James Henry Tancred. She was the middle child to her older brother James Patrick “Pat” and her younger sister Thomasine “Tomi” Marie (Ealy).

Suzanne graduated from Fairview High School in Dayton. Suzanne went on to meet Thomas “Tom” Reese Newman when he was stationed with her brother Pat at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. Once Tom and Suzanne married, The Air Force took them overseas to England. Suzanne and Tom had their first two daughters, Mary Jeanne and Karen Louise in the district of Newton in Lancashire, England. While stationed in England, the family was fortunate enough to travel throughout Europe.

Upon returning to the states, they made a home on Annapolis Avenue in North Dayton. It was here that they saw the birth of their third daughter, Linda Suzanne.

While the girls were still young, the family moved south to West Carrollton, OH. They had a new home built, where Suzanne was able to design her own gardens and landscaping. Suzanne’s eye for beauty, flowers and decorating added special touches to their home. Once settled into their new home, Suzanne gave birth to their son, Thomas Michael “Mike”.

Suzanne’s love for learning and higher education began with night classes for shorthand in the late 50’s, and later continued on to earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business at The University of Dayton decades later. That understanding for the importance of higher learning led to encouragement and support in the college educations of her children and her granddaughter Melinda.

Suzanne’s professional career placed her at Chemineer and Dayton Progress, as well as the Veteran’s Administration. Suzanne went to work for Care Source upon retiring from the Veteran’s Administration.

Once the girls had moved out of the house, Suzanne purchased a house for her and Mike on Shroyer Road in Kettering. This provided opportunities for new gardens, new flowers and new décor. Because of her warmth, generosity and capacity for forgiveness, this home was also the family’s home. Having always been an avid reader, her retirement years were filled with enjoyable trips to the library, always exploring new books to devour.

Rest in peace, our Dearest Mother.

Suzanne is preceded in death by her parents, James and Rosella, her second husband Robert “Bob” Schrand, her brother Pat and her children’s father Tom.

Suzanne is survived by her sister Tomi, her children Mary Jeanne Gray, Karen Louise, Linda Suzanne Brelsford (Jeffrey), Thomas Michael, her granddaughter Melinda Peffer (Michael) and great-granddaughter Madeline Rose.

There will be a graveside service for the family members at Calvary Cemetery on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at 2:30 pm in Dayton, OH. Linda and Jeff will be receiving family and friends at their home for remembrance and celebration of Suzanne’s life afterwards from 4 pm - 6 pm.