Susan A Dammassa-Kraus

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Susan Dammassa-Kraus, age 69, of Wyckoff, NJ.  Susan Passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 11, 2025 while receiving the loving care of her friends and family.

She was born and raised in Hoboken, NJ and was the only child to Angelo and Assunta Dammassa.  Susan attended Hoboken High School and graduated with the class of 1973.  Susan always knew she wanted to make a difference in people's lives, so immediately after graduating high school, she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a registered nurse. With determination and a passion for healthcare, she enrolled in St Mary’s Nursing School in Hoboken, NJ.  There she dedicated herself to mastering the skills and knowledge needed to care for others.

Susan dove into her role as a trusted healthcare professional by first accepting a position as an Emergency Room Nurse with St Mary’s Hospital in Hoboken.  She left St Mary’s Hospital to work for the Meadowlands Hospital in Secaucus again as an Emergency Room Nurse.  For a while Susan was employed in the field of Home Healthcare working for a variety of companies over the next several years.  She was a Unit Nurse at Clara Maas Medical center in Belleville, NJ for a time and eventually accepted a position as Case Manager for St Joseph Hospital where she transferred between their Wayne and Paterson locations.  Susan’s career as a Registered Nurse spanned a period of over forty-five years.  During her career, she was truly loved and respected by her peers and colleagues, focusing on smoothing the way for patients being discharged to get the resources they needed as soon as possible. Susan dedicated forty-five years of her life to her career as a compassionate and skilled Registered Nurse, retiring only when her illness made it impossible for her to continue the work she loved.

In 1988 Susan was introduced by a mutual friend to a man by the name of Peter Kraus.  The two went out on a blind date to Bennigan’s in Fairfield, NJ.  As fate would have it, they fell in love and became instant soul mates, later exchanging wedding vows and becoming husband and wife on December 9, 1990.  The couple lived in Wayne for many years together and cherished nearly twenty-two years of loving and loyal marriage until Peter’s sudden passing. They were inseparable and enjoyed traveling together and taking photos wherever they went.  Their trip to Walt Disney World in 2011 was one highlight of their married life that Susan cherished.  Several years after Peter’s passing, Susan moved to the Vista, the independent living community that is part of Christian Health in Wyckoff, New Jersey, where she treasured the many friendships she created with her fellow residents.

Susan was not only devoted to her husband Peter, she was a woman deeply devoted to her Catholic faith, living it out through tireless service to her community. She worked closely with Holy Angels Church in Little Falls and other local churches, offering her time and talents to organize events, support parish activities, and strengthen her fellow parishioners’ spiritual lives. Beyond her parish, Susan was actively involved in Catholic charities, dedicating herself to helping those in need.  Through her unwavering commitment and acts of devotion, Susan was a shining example of living her life with faith.

Susan loved all things Christmas! The first year at The Vista she covered every surface in her new apartment with Christmas memorabilia and covered her tree with many special Disney ornaments. She loved everything related to Disney - artwork, ornaments, movies, photos, and more.  Susan’s hobbies included photography, games like canasta, Peanuts and Snoopy cartoons, and music. Every time a different song came on the radio or came through the speaker system, it was her favorite!  She knew all the lyrics to songs from the popular music groups of her growing up years.

Susan is survived by her stepson, Jeff Kraus, and his wife Maria, her stepdaughter, Denise Jurewicz, and her husband Bill, six grandchildren, Kaitlyn Kraus, Vincent Colley, Justin Colley, Will Jurewicz, Ben Jurewicz, and Kayla Jurewicz, her dear cousin Phyllis Clemente, her grandniece Samara Bruschi, and her dear friend Anita Kromrey.  Susan will be missed by all the residents of The Vista. She will especially be missed by her close group of friends who bonded with her during her time there. She was predeceased by her husband Peter Kraus in November of 2012.