Susan Frances Cruz

Susan Frances (Bayer) Cruz, a beloved first-grade teacher, devoted wife, and the kind of aunt who made childhood feel like a grand adventure, died on March 5th, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona with her beloved husband at her side. She was 77.

A witty, sparkling presence to all who knew her, Susan moved through the world with an easy going grace and a patient, loving spirit that left its mark on everyone she encountered, from the fresh enthusiastic 1st graders in her classroom who were just learning to read, to the nieces and nephews who adored her across a lifetime. She did not take herself too seriously, but she took great care of everyone around her.

She was born on December 7, 1948, in Phoenix, the daughter of Charles and Frances Bayer who were known warmly to the family as Papa and Nanny. She grew up with a spirited, affectionate closeness to her older brother, Charles, a bond marked by the playful mischief and genuine tenderness that define the best of sibling relationships. In the way of siblings with years between them, Charles also offered something beyond mere brotherhood. He provided a steady, reliable presence that Susan leaned into through life's early chapters that never wavered.

She attended St. Mary’s Elementary School, where fate quietly arranged for her to share a classroom with the boy who would one day become her husband. Robert “Bobby” Cruz, who made a memorable first impression on the young Susan with his playground kickball prowess, would later become her husband and her most steadfast companion. They married on March 23, 1986, and remained devoted to one another for nearly 40 years.

After graduating from North High School, Susan enrolled at Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in education and becoming a member of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. Her years at ASU confirmed both her vocation and her character. She was the kind of young woman who met life’s unexpected detours with humor and composure, qualities that certainly would serve her well in a career spent in the company of kinetic, enthusiastic first-graders.

For 34 years, Susan taught first grade at Surprise Elementary School in the Dysart Unified School District, and she brought to that work everything she had. She was patient where patience was needed, imaginative where imagination was called for, and unfailingly empathetic with the children in her care. To sit in her classroom was to be in the presence of someone who genuinely believed that every child mattered. Because to Susan, they absolutely did. She retired carrying the deep respect of her school community and the gratitude of the many families whose children had passed through her door.

Outside the classroom, Susan poured that same warmth into her family. She was the aunt her brother Charles’s children counted on for adventure and delight. Ever eager for camping trips and beach vacations, always game for whatever the day brought, and a remarkable incapacity of ever letting a moment pass without finding the fun in it. She had an instinct for making ordinary occasions feel special and a gift for keeping up with children that never seemed to fade. Her great-nieces and great-nephews knew her the same way her nieces and nephews had: as someone who showed up fully, laughed easily, and loved without reservation.

Her home reflected her personality at every turn. She decorated for each season and holiday with an artist’s enthusiasm, transforming her surroundings the way she transformed her classroom: with care, creativity, and a heart filled with joy. She was an avid crocheter and a devoted reader, and she loved old movies with the passion of a true enthusiast, capable of naming any actor that graced any sized screen. She cared for a number of beloved animals throughout her life including Basset hounds and parakeets, each one tended to with the same attentiveness she gave to everyone she loved. Friends who visited knew to expect a warm welcome, a cheerfully decorated home and a hostess filled with joy and genuine gladness of their presence.

Susan also possessed a quiet spirit of adventure. She backpacked through Hawaii with friends, finding in travel the same joy she found close to home — new faces, open roads, and the pleasure of simply being present wherever she was. She was, in the fullest sense, a woman who showed up, whether for her students, her family, her friends, and for life itself.

Those who loved Susan will surely remember her spunkiness and her zest for life, but perhaps most of all they will remember the way she said goodbye, always with a kiss, always with an “I love you,” and always with the unequivocal knowledge that she meant it completely.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Frances Bayer, and her brother, Charles. She is survived by her husband, Robert “Bobby” Cruz; her nieces, Ann (Jim) Zbiegien and Susan Bayer; her nephews, C.J. (Jennifer) Bayer and Jim (Amanda) Bayer; her great-nieces, Bella, Catherine, Grace and Alexis; and her great-nephews, Nic, Thomas, Luc, and Michael.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., with a Rosary at 5:30 p.m., on Friday, March 20, at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 2312 E. Campbell Avenue, Phoenix.

In memory of Susan, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society/?campaign=incentivehubdefaultmedia">American Cancer Society or St. Mary’s Food Bank.

A Teacher, an Aunt, and a Woman Who Made Life Look Like a Gift