San Antonio is grieving the death of a longtime H-E-B partner, Suhad Laila Hernandez, who became a familiar face to generations of shoppers at a Far West Side store.
Hernandez, affectionately known by many as “Sue the sample lady,” died on Sept. 16 after spending two decades as an H-E-B partner. She was 82 years old, according to her obituary. Hernandez worked at the store at Grissom and Tezel roads, where shoppers say her warmth made her a memorable part of the community.
“She was the heart and soul of the HEB on Grissom and Tezel,” Roland Aguirre wrote in a Sept. 17 social media post. “She was always so kind to me and the guys from work. May she rest in peace. Angel on Earth.”
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“She always loved to see the girls come in HEB through the years as they grew up and catch up on how they were doing,” Naomi Ponciano added in a Facebook post. “She was such a kind and wonderful person.”
News of her death prompted an outpouring of affection from customers and former coworkers alike, with H-E-B even setting up a memorial for Hernandez inside the store. H-E-B representatives also remembered Hernandez as someone who embodied the company’s culture of caring.
“Our H-E-B family is deeply saddened by Sue’s passing. In her 20 years with H-E-B, she touched the lives of so many Partners and customers,” representatives wrote in a statement to the Express-News.
“While Sue recently retired from the company, she remained someone who was committed to people and her community. Forever a Partner, Sue represented the spirit of H-E-B and will be missed by many.”
Her funeral service was held Tuesday, Sept. 22.
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This article originally published at Beloved H-E-B sample lady remembered by generations of San Antonio shoppers.