Suzanne Sarno
1945 - 2023
Obituary
Suzanne Z. Sarno, 77, of DeWitt, NY, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 13, 2023, right where she wanted to:in her home of nearly 40 years.
Born in Syracuse on February 16, 1945, she was the daughter of the late John and Frances (Bettinger) Ziemann.She was a graduate of Central Tech High School in Syracuse and a member of Onondaga Community College’s inaugural graduating class.
Described by many as a “saint” – and not just for what she put up with from her four children – Sue always placed her friends and family before herself. That’s why her favorite time of year was the holiday season, when she would host Thanksgiving for sometimes as many as 50 guests and then throw her legendary Christmas party a few weeks later to welcome into her home anyone who didn’t make it for Thanksgiving.
Sue blessed the lives of her children and grandchildren, who she cared for deeply and loved unconditionally.From fresh baked goods seemingly always on the kitchen counter to no-questions-asked rides home at 3 am, she was full-time, full-service for them.
Sue was a kind and selfless friend to many, constantly willing to lend them a helping hand or just make their day a bit brighter by a friendly phone call or an invitation to come over.She looked forward to her annual trip to Cape Cod – any excuse to spend time with her siblings and friends.
She started a career later in life as a group coordinator at Drumlins Travel, which perfectly married her love of travel and people. As the person responsible for the Syracuse football team’s travel during the team’s successful run in the late 80s to mid-90s, she probably booked more bowl trips for the team and its fans than anyone in SU history. After the University brought the sports travel in-house, she went to work with Premier Travel for a few more years, where she continued to help family and friends arrange that perfect vacation or honeymoon.
After leaving the travel industry, and with the prior court experience she gained due to the misadventures of her kids, she served as a court clerk for the next 20 years, first for the Dewitt Town Court and later the Syracuse City Court, until her retirement in 2017.
Over the decades, Sue volunteered for a number of roles within the town and school district, including serving for many years as DeWitt Parks and Recreation Commissioner and, fittingly given her welcoming nature, a member of the board of the Jamesville-Dewitt Newcomers. She was a parishioner at Holy Cross in DeWitt.
Sue is predeceased by her siblings, John “Jack” Ziemann, Shirley Garner and Karlotta Comerford, and her beloved dogs, Casey and Bennie.
Surviving are her children, Joseph (Allie) Sarno, John (Claire) Sarno, Chris (Shannon) Sarno and Kirsten Sarno; grandchildren, Devin Sarno, Jack Jeffrey, Georgia Sarno, John C. Sarno, Josephine Sarno and John B. Sarno, Jr.; sister, Joan Day; and several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be from 6 to 9 pm on Thursday, February 23, at Eaton-Tubbs Fayetteville Chapel, 7191 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10 am on Friday, February 24, at Holy Cross Church, 4112 E. Genesee St., DeWitt.Burial will be at White Chapel Memory Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, please give a toast in honor of all the loved ones you have lost over the last year at this year’s Thanksgiving dinner.