Sulema "Sue" (Abrego) Cabrera

Sulema “Sue” Cabrera, age 73 of Highland, passed away Friday, December 2, 2022. She is survived by her husband of 52 years Gabriel Cabrera; children DeAnna (late Jorge) Alvarez, Brandon Cabrera, and Gabriel (Courtney) Cabrera; grandchildren Abigail, Elena, Natalia, Julian, Gabriel, and Graham; sister Gloria Abrego, brother Javier Abrego; nephews Ryan, Jayson, and Johnathan and niece Crystal. She was preceded in death by her parents Manuel and Adelina Abrego.

Visitation will be held at the Fagen-Miller Funeral Home, 2828 Highway Ave, in Highland, on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 from 4 – 7 pm. Funeral services will be held directly at Lincoln Street Christian Church, 2420 Lincoln St. in Highland on Thursday at 11 am. Cremation to follow.

Sue was born in southern Texas (Mercedes) and lived there for the first 9 years of her life. Due to job scarcity, her father (Manuel) moved their family to East Chicago to work in the steel mills and build a better life for his young family. She attended school in East Chicago until middle school when the family moved to Brunswick, Gary. She graduated from Edison High School and attended IUN for one year in hopes of becoming an Occupational Therapist.

In 1970, she married her husband Gabriel (Gabe) and they were married for 52 years when she passed. They welcomed their firstborn Deanna – followed by Brandon and Gabriel. She always enjoyed her role as a Mom and loved watching her children grow into the respectful and loving adults they are today.

Life continued to offer wonderful growth of her family – first with the new title of Grandmother (to granddaughter Abigail) and with added role of Mother-in-law and the addition of DeAnna’s husband, Jorge Alvarez (recently deceased) and three additional Grandchildren (Elena, Natalia, and Julian). A few years later, she welcomed daughter-in-law Courtney (Gabriel’s wife), followed by more happiness and her two final grandchildren, Gabriel and Graham.

Over the years, she worked various jobs including a cashier, payroll clerk, insurance billing secretary, and receptionist – primarily with the School Town of Highland.

She supported the Lincoln Street Christian Church as the Loyal Worker’s President for the last 10 years, serving the good Lord up until her final days following 45 years of continuous service at this church. She cherished the many friendships built during those four decades and was always so proud to call the Lincoln Street Christian Church her ‘safe place’ and her home away from home.

She was an incredibly sweet, kind, and compassionate woman, known as the trusted matriarch and glue for her extended family – and will forever be remembered for the incredible honor she bestowed on those she’s left behind as devoted wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and tireless worker for God. Time is short – hug your loved ones and always let them know they are loved. That’s what Sue would have done.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Sue's name to Sjögren’s Foundation, would be appreciated.

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