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Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 9 AM on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 from the funeral home, then to Most Blessed Sacrament RC Church, Franklin Lakes, where at 10 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will follow at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa.
Marie F. Suppa, age 95 of Wayne, died peacefully on Saturday, May 16, 2015. She had been a Wayne resident since 1969.
Marie was raised in Haverstraw, NY and moved to Paterson as a teenager. She attended East Side High School before moving to Hawthorne, where she graduated from Hawthorne High School in 1937. Soon after high school, she became a telephone operator for Bell Telephone. She worked her way up the ranks in Paterson, Totowa, Fair Lawn, and Clifton before eventually becoming a supervisor, which was an accomplishment for a woman of that era. She retired from NJ Bell, Clifton office, in 1983 after more than forty years with the company.
Marie met the love of her life, Anthony “Sonny” Tirri, while roller skating during the early 1940s. The two of them hit it off right from the start and were married in 1944. They honeymooned in Point Pleasant, NJ and then settled in and started a family. Marie’s heart was broken however, when Sonny died in November of 1949 of a heart condition. They were married just five short years, leaving Marie with a three year old son and a daughter on the way. Marie was strong though, and this was truly a test of her fortitude. She moved in with her parents and started working even harder at the phone company to support her young family. She struggled and made many sacrifices throughout the years, but her children know she was a true champion for them. After several years of being on her own, Marie met Domenick J. Suppa. They married February 20, 1958 and their family of four expanded with the birth of another daughter; Cyndie. Marie and Domenick shared their enjoyments in life of roller-skating, music, dancing, movies, and at the Jersey Shore, where Domenick's family owned a motel and bungalows in Seaside. This began a new journey for Marie and the two of them were married for 23 years. Marie has just about every piece of music ever recorded by Frank Sinatra and she listened to him all the time. She loved to dance to his music and on cleaning day her kids recall Frank playing throughout the house while they did their chores. Spending time with family, especially during the holidays, was precious to Marie and she enjoyed every minute she could with each of them. Summers at the Jersey Shore, in Ocean Beach III and at Seaside were among her most favorite and most memorable times. Marie loved being on the beach, getting her toes wet, and watching her children and grandchildren enjoy themselves. Mini golf was always part of those summers at the shore, and Marie had an annual “mini golf tournament” with her granddaughter Angela. Each summer the competition would become fierce for the title of “Mini Golf Champion” and possession of the Golden Putter trophy was the highest honor. Her family all recall the summer that Marie won the tournament, and she triumphantly paraded around the house with her Golden Putter trophy high above her head! Those memories are sure to last a lifetime and will serve to keep Marie alive in all their hearts for many years to come.
In retirement, Marie became busier than she ever was before. First of all, she wouldn’t go out unless she looked “band box perfect.” She passed that on to her daughters as well; don’t leave the house unless you’re dressed nicely, makeup is on and your hair is done just so. She would go bowling with her friends, take day trips often, and she stayed generally active every day. Marie was involved with the “Pioneers,” a group of retired telephone company employees who also became her travel companions. They enjoyed many trips together, as well as a few cruises, a trip to Branson, MO, and to Michigan. Marie also became a Rutgers Football fan, attending many home games with her son Peter. Peter recalls how much she really got into the sport, yelling and screaming throughout the whole game! She became passionate and wouldn’t hold back if she thought the ref’s made a bad call – she would let them have it at the top of her lungs! She really enjoyed going to those games at Rutgers and her family will miss those special times too.
Marie is survived by her three loving children; Peter Tirri and his wife Francine of Pequannock, Toni Gennarelli and her husband Joseph of Franklin Lakes, and Cyndie Suppa of Pequannock, six grandchildren; Angela Tirri Van Do and her husband My Van Do of Westminster, CO, Cpt. Vincent Tirri and his wife Stephanie of Jackson, NJ, Jesse Gennarelli and his fiancé Angelina of Bergenfield, Joseph Gennarelli of Franklin Lakes, Jennifer Van Grouw Dixon and her husband Kurt of Pequannock, and Jessica Van Grouw of Pequannock, as well as four great-grandchildren; Ava Marie Tirri, Isabella Virginia Tirri, Stella Sophia Hanh Do, and Jaylen Justice Dixon, and her three brothers; Frank Smith, Jr. of Paramus, Raymond Smith and his wife Josephine of Bradenton, FL, and Robert Smith and his wife Barbara of Fair Lawn, and many loving nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister; Alice Wanamaker of Morristown and her brother Harold Smith of Pennsylvania.
Donations in Marie’s memory, if friends so wish, would be greatly appreciated to the Lustgarten Foundation, 1111 Stewart Avenue. Bethpage, NY 11714.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 9 AM on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 from the funeral home, then to Most Blessed Sacrament RC Church, Franklin Lakes, where at 10 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will follow at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa.
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 9 AM on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 from the funeral home, then to Most Blessed Sacrament RC Church, Franklin Lakes, where at 10 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will follow at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa.
Marie F. Suppa, age 95 of Wayne, died peacefully on Saturday, May 16, 2015. She had been a Wayne resident since 1969.
Marie was raised in Haverstraw, NY and moved to Paterson as a teenager. She attended East Side High School before moving to Hawthorne, where she graduated from Hawthorne High School in 1937. Soon after high school, she became a telephone operator for Bell Telephone. She worked her way up the ranks in Paterson, Totowa, Fair Lawn, and Clifton before eventually becoming a supervisor, which was an accomplishment for a woman of that era. She retired from NJ Bell, Clifton office, in 1983 after more than forty years with the company.
Marie met the love of her life, Anthony “Sonny” Tirri, while roller skating during the early 1940s. The two of them hit it off right from the start and were married in 1944. They honeymooned in Point Pleasant, NJ and then settled in and started a family. Marie’s heart was broken however, when Sonny died in November of 1949 of a heart condition. They were married just five short years, leaving Marie with a three year old son and a daughter on the way. Marie was strong though, and this was truly a test of her fortitude. She moved in with her parents and started working even harder at the phone company to support her young family. She struggled and made many sacrifices throughout the years, but her children know she was a true champion for them. After several years of being on her own, Marie met Domenick J. Suppa. They married February 20, 1958 and their family of four expanded with the birth of another daughter; Cyndie. Marie and Domenick shared their enjoyments in life of roller-skating, music, dancing, movies, and at the Jersey Shore, where Domenick's family owned a motel and bungalows in Seaside. This began a new journey for Marie and the two of them were married for 23 years. Marie has just about every piece of music ever recorded by Frank Sinatra and she listened to him all the time. She loved to dance to his music and on cleaning day her kids recall Frank playing throughout the house while they did their chores. Spending time with family, especially during the holidays, was precious to Marie and she enjoyed every minute she could with each of them. Summers at the Jersey Shore, in Ocean Beach III and at Seaside were among her most favorite and most memorable times. Marie loved being on the beach, getting her toes wet, and watching her children and grandchildren enjoy themselves. Mini golf was always part of those summers at the shore, and Marie had an annual “mini golf tournament” with her granddaughter Angela. Each summer the competition would become fierce for the title of “Mini Golf Champion” and possession of the Golden Putter trophy was the highest honor. Her family all recall the summer that Marie won the tournament, and she triumphantly paraded around the house with her Golden Putter trophy high above her head! Those memories are sure to last a lifetime and will serve to keep Marie alive in all their hearts for many years to come.
In retirement, Marie became busier than she ever was before. First of all, she wouldn’t go out unless she looked “band box perfect.” She passed that on to her daughters as well; don’t leave the house unless you’re dressed nicely, makeup is on and your hair is done just so. She would go bowling with her friends, take day trips often, and she stayed generally active every day. Marie was involved with the “Pioneers,” a group of retired telephone company employees who also became her travel companions. They enjoyed many trips together, as well as a few cruises, a trip to Branson, MO, and to Michigan. Marie also became a Rutgers Football fan, attending many home games with her son Peter. Peter recalls how much she really got into the sport, yelling and screaming throughout the whole game! She became passionate and wouldn’t hold back if she thought the ref’s made a bad call – she would let them have it at the top of her lungs! She really enjoyed going to those games at Rutgers and her family will miss those special times too.
Marie is survived by her three loving children; Peter Tirri and his wife Francine of Pequannock, Toni Gennarelli and her husband Joseph of Franklin Lakes, and Cyndie Suppa of Pequannock, six grandchildren; Angela Tirri Van Do and her husband My Van Do of Westminster, CO, Cpt. Vincent Tirri and his wife Stephanie of Jackson, NJ, Jesse Gennarelli and his fiancé Angelina of Bergenfield, Joseph Gennarelli of Franklin Lakes, Jennifer Van Grouw Dixon and her husband Kurt of Pequannock, and Jessica Van Grouw of Pequannock, as well as four great-grandchildren; Ava Marie Tirri, Isabella Virginia Tirri, Stella Sophia Hanh Do, and Jaylen Justice Dixon, and her three brothers; Frank Smith, Jr. of Paramus, Raymond Smith and his wife Josephine of Bradenton, FL, and Robert Smith and his wife Barbara of Fair Lawn, and many loving nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister; Alice Wanamaker of Morristown and her brother Harold Smith of Pennsylvania.
Donations in Marie’s memory, if friends so wish, would be greatly appreciated to the Lustgarten Foundation, 1111 Stewart Avenue. Bethpage, NY 11714.
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