Suzanne Orlando

Suzanne Stoy Orlando was born on January 26, 1952 in Brooklyn, New York to Edward Stoy and Margot Larsen. Growing up with four brothers, Sue learned how to stand up, be heard and navigate her way in life as a strong, fierce, determined woman.

On October 15, 1967 Suzanne married John Orlando, her soul partner and they enjoyed 32 happy years together creating a family, sacrificing to give them opportunities and finally adventuring together later in life. Her house was open to all her children’s friends, hosting gatherings and game nights on a regular basis and making everyone feel welcome and accepted. She raised her family along with her lifelong friends, Marie and Frank Curto, and their children Frank and Kim where block parties, backyard swimming and many fun evenings spent together. She lived in our Brooklyn home for 20 years where she supported Dawn and Josephine in their dancing and John in his gymnastics. She loved the many family dogs, her favorite was Billy the Yorkie our dad got her for their anniversary.

Suzanne attended Brooklyn College where she graduated summa cum laude and received her bachelor's degree in accounting in 1979. She worked for the City of New York Comptrollers Office for 5 years before moving to the City of New York Housing Preservation and Development for 10 years until she retired and relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada with John. She was known as a straight forward, kind and compassionate leader/mentor to her colleagues and staff throughout the years. She was often the force behind the scenes that made things happen and had the respect and acknowledgement of those successes by both the colleagues under and above her. She was well respected and well liked, her quick thinking, intellect and perseverance helped her progress and move forward with her career.

Sue loved football, music, adventures and family. She was a Giants season ticket holder since 1976 and attended 2 Super Bowls. Her Sundays, Monday nights and Thursday nights were dedicated to the NFL and her Saturdays, college football. She attended hundreds of concerts that many of us have accompanied her with. She sang her heart out and always had music on if there wasn’t a football game on.

After her retirement, she spent her time traveling to see family and going on family vacations around the world. From several Alaskan and Caribbean cruises, trips to Hawaii, Cabo, Cancun, Dominican Republic, Florida, California, traveling through South America and two months in Europe, she had many stories and adventures to share. She was an adrenaline seeker, loving ziplining, touring roller coasters throughout the world, hopping on a catamaran, wrapping snakes around her neck, hiking and just living her life to the fullest around those she loved. If anyone were tentative about doing something crazy, Sue would be the first to get in line and then you would have no choice but to follow.

She was ecstatic once grandchildren started becoming part of the family. First, Ty Connor, then Luca John, Gian Charles and Ario Edward. She loved being a gramma and took that role to the next level. Ty would spend every Friday night at grandmas house for 14 years as well as every New Years Eve. She went to his baseball games and traveled the country to support his passion for the game. She drove like Mario Andretti from Vegas to San Diego to make it to the birth of her second grandson, Luca, making it in record time and helping welcome him into the world. She attended countless soccer games for Gian and Luca, helping get them to practices and games and loved spending time with Ario doing puzzles, projects and sneaking him candy while his brothers were traveling for soccer. She also considered Joshua Phillip as one of her grandsons and spent many days going to the zoo, museum and parks with Ario and Josh together. She was an integral part in raising and helping with her grandsons and also a listening and supportive guide to all of her children/spouses as they became adults and made their way through life.

Over the years Sue split her time between New York with Dawn, Denver with John and Kristin, Arizona with Jo and Tom. She was a welcome member of each household and missed every time she left, however, we knew she would always be back on her next rotation through the cities. She loved reading Sci-Fi and Fantasy, her music, low budget movies, bingo, football and helping others in need. Introducing her grandkids to her love of all of these and often their parents walking into them cuddled on the couch watching Sharknado or any other kind of bad disaster or creature movies. She supported her children in their career paths and loved being a part of the music studios both in NYC with Dawn and Denver with Kristin and John since music was so close to her.

This past year she loved doing her Pilates and Yoga Zoom classes and our weekly family Zoom calls to stay connected with everyone.

She is survived by her children Dawn Orlando, Josephine Corcoran (Thomas), John Orlando (Kristin) and her 4 grandchildren Ty, Luca, Gian and Ario, her companion John Williams and extended children Charlene and Marcus Clay along with countless close friends and family that she knew over her life.

Celebration of Life Service will be a zoom call held on January 26, 2021. Cremation arrangements by Palm Mortuaries and Cemeteries in Las Vegas. Cards can be sent to Josephine Corcoran 1692 W Homestead Dr. Chandler AZ 85286. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in care of to “A Childs Song” www.achildssong.org in Thornton, CO.