Louise was born in Pittston, PA on August 7, 1939 and moved to Elizabeth, NJ with her family in 1942. She was predeceased by her loving husband, John N. Surmay, and by her parents Louise and Michael Lisnock. Louise was a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. Louise loved the human connection and had a talent for giving and accepting love. To her, life was measured in conversations and interactions. She made everyone feel like they were her favorite. She wanted to know the person, understand and support them. She was an engaging person, but didn’t draw attention to herself. Rather, she enjoyed the camaraderie of others and loved hearing about their lives and adventures. The commonality of her roles was to love and accept, encourage and empathize. She had a love of life, a cheerful spirit and an infinite desire for fun that will be missed.
Family was the central focus of her life. Her husband, John, knew her support, children her love and grandchildren her pride. She embraced uniqueness and celebrated it in each of her children and grandchildren. Louise had many lifelong friends who she treasured and considered part of her family.
Louise graduated from Battin High School, Elizabeth NJ and went to work at Western Electric where her father also worked. After her marriage to John in 1959, she set her energy into homemaking and raising her four children. Louise was a talented seamstress and as a young mother she spent endless hours making clothes and festive Halloween costumes, for her children. Later, Louise returned to work as an administrative assistant and wholesale drug salesperson.
Louise loved reading and listening to music and she and John regularly attended performances at NJPAC, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. She loved flowers and nurtured a beautiful backyard garden. She also had a unique and stylish fashion sense that will be particularly missed.
Louise had a deep religious devotion. She worshipped at Saints Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Elizabeth where she met her husband, John, and most recently was a parishioner of St. Thomas Byzantine Catholic Church. Throughout her life, Louise sang in many religious choirs, including the Metropolitan Choir.
Louise was a resident of Elizabeth NJ for over 70 years and like her husband, John, Louise loved the City of Elizabeth. She was an active member of the Elizabeth Cotillion and a representative to the City of Elizabeth – City of Kitami (Japan) Sister City Program.
Louise is survived by her daughters Susan Surmay Wood and Kathryn Surmay Kenny; sons John M. Surmay and Gary L. Surmay; and grandchildren, Ethan, Abigail, Griffin, Lily, Ryan, Evan and Matthew.
She is also survived by her siblings, Gerald Lisnock, Michael Lisnock and Janet Taliercio; and by her daughters-in-law, Kari (Stemen) Surmay and Jennifer (Jankunas) Surmay; and sons-in-law, Douglas K, Wood and Paul F. Kenny and by many nieces and nephews.
The Surmay family will welcome visitors on Tuesday, February 4, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Krowicki McCracken Funeral Homes, 2124 East St Georges Avenue, Linden, NJ 07036. Parastas 6:00 pm. The funeral with Divine Liturgy will be held on Wednesday, February 5, at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Byzantine Catholic Church, 1405 St Georges Avenue, Rahway, NJ 07065, followed by interment at Fairview Cemetery, 1100 E. Broad Street, Westfield, NJ.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made in Louise’s memory to Camp Nejeda (https://www.campnejeda.org/), The Interfaith Food Panty (http://mcifp.org/) or the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Ss. Cyril and Methodius (https://www.bcs.edu/).
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