Thank you Mom for being the best mom you could be ?

Happy 96th Birthday my beautiful Nanny Susie! I love and miss you very much.

Thank you all for the support you have given my family at this difficult time. 
This is the eulogy I composed for my beloved Grandmother's service: 
Nanny Susie Eulogy        January 9th 2015 

  
Her name was Assunta.Now, Assunta is commonly anglicized as Susan. But it comes from a Latin wordmeaning â€œAscend into Heavenâ€. She was born Assunta Alfano, and with a name like Assunta Alfano she told me she was always in the first row and the first seat in her classes and was always the first one called upon. She made it into her 96th year. A year, 2015, which will mark the 100thbirthday of her beloved husband Pat, my Grandfather, our Pops. And at barely over 5 feet tall little Assunta Alfano, who was always first, was the last ofher generation in my family. Susie Tommasino outlived and outlasted them all. 
  
On behalf of myfamily I'd like to thank you for being here. For those of you who do not know me I am Susie Tommasino's grandson Castel Ortiz. Her first, and favorite,grandchild. If you don't believe me all you had to do was ask her, or my sister, Elaine. That's the kind of woman my grandmother was. She said what wason her mind no matter what anybody thought. 
  
I think we began togrow close when I was young and had no place to go. My grandparents gave me sanctuary, a place to be. One night some local thugs bothered my grandmother and her friends and my grandfather asked me if I would accompany them as they walked around the block, had a smoke and gossiped. Ever since then we were always very close. 
  
One of my favorite memories is when she introduced me to some friends of hers and said this is my son Castel. Then she corrected herself and said well he's not my son, he's my grandson but he's like a son to me. That was the kind of relationship we had. 

There's not going tobe a big obituary in the New York Times for Susie Tommasino.  My grandmother was a simple woman froma simple time. She married young and had many children. That's why we are literally here today. 
  
She made the best meatballs. Everyone who ever tasted them always said that. One time a girlfriend of mine asked her for the recipe. She said I don't have a recipe, it'sall up here, pointing to her head. Like I said, a simple woman. 


  
I remember how on Saturday afternoons she would listen to some old time radio hour where theyplayed songs like the Andrew sisters sang and she would sing along with themand do her house cleaning. One thing about my grandmother: she had a beautiful voice. She would call me up on my birthday and sing happy birthday to me. Andthat was always the best gift I got. I'm going to miss her. 

Now this body here isn't really Susie Tommasino. We all know that instinctively. Susie Tommasino isn't here anymore. She's somewhere else, somewhere we can't be. We are souls shut inside a body. We get to hang out there for a certain number of years andthen we go where souls go. I don't know where that is. 


  
I hope that's into the heart of God. Where she can be with Pops again. And Benny and Gina and hermother, her sisters and her brother. And all those we love who are now gone.You may believe it's somewhere different. But one thing's for sure: itsomewhere and it's not here. 
  
We are here today to bury your body. You don't need it anymore. But if it's alright with you, pleaselet us keep a few little souvenirs: our memories. We want to keep you with useven as we let you go. We want you to live on in our minds, even though you'reliving somewhere bigger and better than that. We want to keep you in ourhearts, which is where you always really existed. One day, we too will go wheresouls go, where you are, where you have traveled before us. Until then: goodbye Susie Tommasino. 
  
Goodbye my NannySusie.

Dear Cousins
We are so very sorry for your loss.  I shall always have the nicest memories of our trips to see Aunt Sue when I was a kid.
Love you all and sorry we could not see you.
Vincent & Garry

Dear Cousins Jim, Laura, Paddy and Families, 

May each of you be comforted by the love of family and friends.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you.  May your dear Mom rest in peace.   

With our sincere sympathy, 
Cosmo and Marge DeMaio

Dear laura,

Im so sorry for your loss.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Dear Jiim, Laura,Paddy and Family.                                                                                  I was very sorry to hear about your Mother.Please accept my deepest sympathies.You are in my thoughts and prayers.                                                             Sincerely,     Frank Rush

Dear Laura and family.Our condolences on the loss of your Dear Mother

Our thoughts are with the family and friends during this time.

Many fond memories of your Mom.  Love, Dee Tommasino

Dear Jim, Laura, Paddy and Family,
        My condolences on the passing of your Mom. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Your cousin, Patrick DeMaio

OBITUARY

Susie Tommasino

March 13, 1919 – January 3, 2015

Cusimano & Russo Funeral Home

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