It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Swangjit Sarasuk (always affectionately called Jit) after a long illness. Born in a small Buddhist village in Thailand, Jit was a natural-born teacher with an immense love for people and giving of her nature. After eleven years of teaching, her insatiable curiosity and daring nature led her to leave her family behind in 1983, in pursuit of the elusive American Dream.

After her arrival in the United States, Jit dedicated her life to working with children, once again embracing her true calling as an educator. For 9 years, she found joy in teaching at a daycare, shaping young minds and nurturing their growth. It was during the later half of this time that she met Chuck Hammack (a fellow teacher and coach) who would later become her beloved husband in 1993. Inseparable and together they embarked on a remarkable journey, united by their shared passion for education, exploration, and their life together in Texas.

Married to Chuck, Jit’s dreams of space and the stars became a reality when she found herself immersed in a family deeply connected to NASA. She took a job at Space Center Houston where she learned and taught for over twenty years. Her unquenchable thirst for knowledge and desire to make a difference led her to live and study alongside astronauts and NASA families, gaining invaluable insights into the wonders of the universe. This included many letters, photos, stories and unique memorabilia, and her own writings. Little did she know that this path and these artifacts would eventually lead back to her village in Thailand.

With the support of her loved ones, Jit’s dreams of constructing a home in her native village was realized. However, true to her selfless nature, she transformed this home into a small intimate space museum, a place that would inspire and educate her fellow villagers, and even her fellow countrymen for years to come. In this beautiful act of giving back, Jit came full circle, reconnecting to her essence as a teacher and passing on the knowledge she had acquired through her incredible journey.

It is with strong emotions that we bid farewell to Jit, we mourn her passing on 11/19/2023, at the age of 74. While her physical presence may be gone, her indomitable spirit and the legacy she leaves behind will forever live on in the hearts and minds of those who knew her. May Jit’s soul rest in eternal peace, knowing that she has left an indelible mark, not only on her village but on the countless lives she encountered, through her love of her soulmate Chuck, her connection to her surviving nine brothers and sisters, her brother and sister-in-law, and many nieces and nephews both in Thailand and the United States.

Please join us in celebrating the life of Jit. Jit’s Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at 2pm at the Crowder Funeral Home located at 111 East Medical Center Blvd., Webster, TX 77598