Rita Mary Suma

Rita Mary Suma went to be with our Lord on March 4, 2026. She was 95 at the time of her passing. She joins her husband of 65 years, Sebastian (Sam), who died in 2013.  She leaves behind six children, Stephen (Susan) and their children, Nova, Joshua, Evan and Rebecca; Noel (Larry) Uhl and their children, Randy, David, Christopher, and Ryan; Lisa (Thomas) Minor and their children, Melissa, Adam, and Jason; Karen (Robert) Borst; Barbara (Christopher) Monacella; and Joseph (Marisa) and their children, Trinity and Jake.  Through them, she was blessed with fourteen great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Sebastian, Olive, Ezra, Talia, Michael, Grace, Noah, Anderson, Kaylee, Ashley, Briana, Teagan, and Rylan.

Rita and Sam fostered seven children including Linda (Vaccaro) Epstein who then brought her children, Christine, Elenora, Rita and Michael and grandchildren into their lives.

Rita leaves behind one sister, Jean.  She is predeceased by her sisters Stella, Anne, baby Lilly, and her brothers Michael, Daniel, Rocco, John and Frank.  Rita was born in Brooklyn, NY.  Rita and Sam raised their family initially in Brooklyn and then in Seaford, Long Island. They owned Arista Flag Corporation in Manhattan for many years before retiring to Whitney Point, NY. Rita spent her final three years living with her daughter Karen in Eden, NY.

Rita and Sam loved to travel throughout the United States especially to Utah to visit with her brother Rocco and sister Anna’s extended families. 

Rita wrote a personal memoir titled My Stories, My Family, My Life and had just recently completed another book, this time about her beloved mother, Rosa DiLaura.

Rita kept in touch with all her nieces and nephews and their families, too numerous to mention by name. She was the heart and soul that held our enormous and far-reaching family together. Her door was always open for anyone, family or strangers, in need of help, or food, or comfort, or a place to stay. She will be missed by many.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:00am Tuesday, April 21 at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church, 59 Keibel Rd, Whitney Point, NY 13862. Friends of the family may call from 4:00pm to 7:00pm Monday, April 20 at Root Funeral Home, 23 N. Chenango St, Greene, NY 13778. Arrangements are under the direction of Root Funeral Home and condolences may be sent to the family at www.rootfh.com or www.nicholsfuneral.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rita Mary Suma, please visit our floral store.