The daughter of Manuel Suarez Carreno and Eloisa Gaston de Suarez, both of Havana, Cuba, she was born Sept. 19, 1937, in Havana. She is survived by all 13 siblings: brothers: Jorge, Xavier, Charlie, Melchor, Manolito, and Fernando Suarez; sisters: Teresa Bernardo, Eulalia Mooney, Margarita Suarez, Eloisa Hildalgo, Manela Diez, Rosa Maria Garcia and Maria Dolores Hamm.

Sister Lourdes received her elementary and secondary education in Havana at Sacred Heart School and then entered the Ursuline novitiate there in January 1955. She made her first vows in January 1956 and with the rising to power of Fidel Castro, left Cuba for safety in the United States in 1960 to attend the College of New Rochelle in New York for her under graduate education, finishing with a degree in Spanish. From the Catholic University of Peru, she earned another bachelor's degree in 1965 and a doctorate from the Catholic University of Peru in 1973. She was also an accomplished pianist with an exquisite voice.

Her teaching career led her to Mexico City, Mexico; Lima, Peru; and New Orleans, La. She moved to Queen of Peace Ursuline Healthcare Center in Alton in 2003 where she lived until her death.

A funeral Mass was celebrated April 22 at the Ursuline Convent Chapel. Burial was at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Godfrey.

Memorials may be made to the Queen of Peace Healthcare Center, 845 Danforth Street, Alton, IL, 62002.

Staten-Fine Funeral Home in Alton was in charge of arrangements.