Susan Engels

Susan Brenda Engels, 52, of Kenosha, WI, died Monday, February 13, 2012 at her home surrounded by family. Born in Kenosha on February 10, 1960, she was the daughter of Frank and Brenda (Smith) Engels. She attended St. James grade school and was a graduate of Tremper High School (1978), UW-Parkside (1996), and University of Illinois (2002). On December 5, 1996, at the Graceland Chapel in Las Vegas, NV, she married G. Gordon Hebert, Jr. of New Orleans, LA. Although she had other careers in banking and technical writing after receiving her Masters of Library Information Science, she went on to work in her dream job as a librarian for both the Kenosha Public Library and the Highland Park Public Library. She loved her work at HPPL so much she continued to work there well beyond normal expectations and tearfully left her beloved coworkers and patrons last summer (2011). Her other career passion was as a mother. Caring for her children, Greg and Maggie, grandchildren, Anthony and Luis, as well as, many of their friends was her greatest joy. She was a wise, supportive, and compassionate woman for her children and those friends, who were pleased to call her “Mom” too and of course, “Abuela” was always willing to sit on the floor to play with her grandsons. She was also “Mom” to five “amazing house ponies”. She was preceded across the rainbow bridge by Mikey and Smokey and will be waiting for Gumbo, Carmel (Chevy), and Turbo. All of these grateful greyhounds were lucky to be rescued by the best mom ever. She enjoyed writing, traveling, and playing with children (including her husband). She found great fun in scary movies, ghost hunters, history, the Rat Pack, and latin jazz as well as talking like a pirate. She is preceded by her brother, David Engels, and survived by her parents, husband, sister - Kathy (Jim) Regel, brother – Matthew (Drew) Engels, son – Gregory (Mery) Day, daughter – Margaret (Matt Tithof) Day, and grandsons – Luis Lopez and Anthony Day. Visitation will be held on Friday, February 17th, at Proko Funeral Home from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday at the funeral home at 7:00 p.m. Interment will be private at St. James Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Susan would much prefer donations be made to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance at www.ovariancancer.org, Greyhound Pets of America – WI at http://www.gpawisconsin.org/volunteer/ongoing-needs/, or the Make-A-Wish Foundation at http://www.wish.org/help/donate. These were her favorites because For Susan it was about taking care of others, especially the children. Please honor her memory by giving ongoing support to these organizations. Proko Funeral Home & Crematory 5111-60th Street Kenosha, WI 53144 Phone: (262) 654-3533 Visit Susan’s Online Memorial Book at: www.prokofuneralhome.com