Suzanne Eugenia DeSarbo

Suzanne Eugenia (Miller) DeSarbo, 79, of State College, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at Mt. Nittany Medical Center. She was born on February 10, 1945, in Milwaukee, WI, to the late Albert J. and Phyllis E. (Lewandowski) Miller and was the "big sister" in a family of four siblings. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of more than 50 years, Wayne Stuart DeSarbo.
Suzanne graduated from Vincentian High School in Pittsburgh in 1963. After graduating, she furthered her studies in business and economics at Simmons University in Boston. Suzanne was a devoted mother who effectively balanced work and home responsibilities while raising her three sons. She earned an MBA at Fairleigh Dickinson University, studying part-time in the evenings and on weekends. Over the years, she held various analyst and bookkeeping roles with the Southern New England Telephone Company, Swarthmore Presbyterian Church and the University of Michigan.
Suzanne was an enthusiastic artist who treasured painting in various mediums (i.e. oils, pastels, and watercolors) and crafts such as needlepoint and rug hooking. She especially loved painting colorful portraits of her grandchildren and landscape scenes near her home in Centre Hall. Her art graces the homes of her family across the country. She enjoyed knitting warm hats and scarves for her children, their wives, and her grandchildren who affectionately called her "Nana". Suzanne also loved to cook and prepare dishes with vegetables grown in her large garden. Her family will forever miss her delicious Italian food, most particularly, her famous meat sauce.
Suzanne was a devout Catholic who regularly prayed the rosary and attended mass in person or online. She was an avid reader who enjoyed biographies and history. Suzanne also enjoyed watching sports with her husband and rarely missed a New Yok Yankees game.
Above all, Suzanne relished supporting her children and grandchildren, and cherished times spent with her family proudly discussing their latest endeavors.
Suzanne is survived by her children, Christian DeSarbo (Erica) of Beaver Falls, PA, Sean DeSarbo (Rebecca) of Monroe, MI, and John DeSarbo (Lynne) of Bethesda, MD, and seven grandchildren: Olivia, Rocco and Alaina DeSarbo, all of Beaver Falls, PA, Riley and Leah DeSarbo, of Monroe, MI, and Natalie and Alyssa DeSarbo, of Bethesda, MD. Also surviving are her sisters Elizabeth Miller, of Portland, ME, Margaret Miller of Minneapolis, MN, and her brother James Miller.
Services and burial will be private at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are under the direction of Wetzler Funeral Service, Inc. in Bellefonte.