Eva Steinbrecher

Eva Steinbrecher, 76, entered into eternal rest on Friday, October 3, 2025, in Houston, Texas. Born March 16, 1949, in New York City, she was the first of four children born to Clarence Steinbrecher and Patricia Riechmann Steinbrecher.
In 1954, the family moved to San Antonio, Texas, where her father found great success in the insurance business. As a child, Eva enjoyed summer trips back to New York to visit family in cities such as Syracuse and Fort Ann. Yet anyone who knew Eva knew she was, through and through, a proud Texan. God bless Texas! She loved the Lone Star State and could find her way to any corner of it-with just a map, a compass, and a tank of gas. Whether stopping at Stuckey's or Buc-ee's, or pitching a tent under the stars, Eva was always at home on the open road. A skilled camper influenced by her father's love of the outdoors; she could make any place her home. Eva began working at a young age, taking in ironing to earn extra money, and she lived by the motto: "Any job worth doing is worth doing well." Her career spanned everything from waitressing to operating her own business-always with hard work, integrity, and excellence.
A lifelong learner and voracious reader, Eva loved books of every kind, especially murder mysteries. Mostly self-taught, she had a sharp mind and remarkable reading comprehension.
On December 28, 1980, Eva married Keith Labrie, and on August 5, 1986, they welcomed their beloved daughter, Amanda Elizabeth Labrie. Eva was a devoted mother and homemaker who took great pride in making her home a warm, inviting place for family and friends. She had an impeccable sense of organization and a creative eye for rearranging furniture-family members often joked that visiting meant discovering a whole new layout! Eva especially loved hosting holidays, and Thanksgiving was her favorite. Her famous turkey changed the minds of anyone who thought turkey was dry-her cooking was always a highlight of the season.
Deeply involved in Amanda's school and sports activities, Eva proudly followed the University of Texas Permian Basin swim team to meets across the state and beyond. These trips gave her another excuse to hit the road, listening to her eclectic mix of music-from bluegrass to classical and everything in between. Eva attended the University of Houston–Downtown, where she earned all A's before deciding to pursue another passion-launching her own landscaping company. Working outdoors combined her love for nature and her faith; she often said, "I experience God's love most when I'm surrounded by His creation."
Animals held a special place in Eva's heart. She loved them all-especially her dogs Scruffy, Charlie, and Baxter; her horses Sahara and Kit; her Blue Jay Max and countless chickens and birds over the years. She rose daily at 4:00 a.m. to tend to her horses before work and volunteered at the Houston Wildlife Center, rescuing and rehabilitating animals from opossums to eagles.
Eva was a remarkable woman-independent, compassionate, curious, and full of life. She loved God, her family, her friends, and every creature great and small. She saw beauty and wonder in all of God's creations, from lions to squirrels, and she left this world a better, kinder place. Eva was preceded in death by her father Clarence "Jinx" Steinbrecher, her mother Patricia Riechmann and her brother-in-law Ron Coleson. She is survived by her daughter Amanda Labrie and Caretaker Keith Labrie; Siblings, Michael Steinbrecher (Andy Tomlin), Billie Colson (Ron Colson), Neal Steinbrecher, Karl Heinrich (Norma Heinrich), Wade Steinbrecher (Debbie Steinbrecher) and Stacy Duncan (Robert Duncan); nephews C. J. Colson, Daniel Colson, and great niece Mahayla Colson. Also left behind are numerous relatives, friends, and hundreds of loving animals.
Until we meet again Eva, with love you are always in our hearts.
*IN LIEU OF FLOWERS THE FAMILY HAVE ASKED THAT DONATIONS BE MADE TO THE HOUSTON SPCA DUE TO HER IMMENSE LOVE FOR ALL ANIMALS. THE LINK IS BELOW:
https://act.houstonspca.org/a/honor?_ga=2.27696380.1158404140.1761479498-2111533951.1761479498