Suzanne M. DiDonato

1962 - 2024

DiDonato, Suzanne M.
HOOSICK FALLS - Suzanne Mary (Kowalchyk) DiDonato left this life at the age of 61 on the evening of August 7, 2024 after a courageous battle with mental illness. Suzanne was born on September 4, 1962 in Troy, NY to the late Joseph and Helen (Uscky) Kowalchyk.

Suzanne grew up in a loving household in Watervliet, NY with her siblings Judy, Joseph, Steve, and JoAnne. Summers were spent at the family camp on Saratoga Lake. Those joyous, relaxing, and fun-filled summers with family and friends gave Suzanne a deep love for Saratoga; for sunrises glistening like diamonds across the water; for inspiring sunsets on the boat; for being on the water; and especially for entertaining the many family members and friends who stopped by for Joe and Helen's gracious and generous hospitality. Lessons learned that she passionately honed throughout her life. Suzanne's friends often described her as "Martha Stewart" and "The best hostess" because of her dedication to making every event the best it could be. To make sure everyone was taken care of and always being the last to sit. To make everyone feel warmly welcomed and well fed with her delicious home-cooked delicacies laid out among perfectly decorated finery. Whether it was her own event, or if she were helping a friend with theirs, which she loved to do.

As a young schoolgirl Suzanne's outgoing nature allowed her to make fast friends. These friendships, and the many she would develop throughout her life were long-standing and very important to her. While attending Watervliet High School she was a bright, and dedicated honors student who also served as a class officer. She was popular among both teachers and her fellow students as a caring and charming person, and was elected queen of her junior prom. In the summer after her junior year, she would start a relationship with her future husband Ric. After high school, she attended SUNY Plattsburgh where she made many more close friends. Her senior year, she was offered an internship at IBM in Westchester, NY. After the internship, she was offered a job and eventually she finished earning her BS in Computer Science. She remained with IBM for seventeen years, eventually becoming a sales executive. Her ability to build immediate rapport with clients, her classy demeanor, and her dedication to delivering them the best solutions put her in the top 2% of sales globally and she was twice awarded IBM's Golden Circle.

Suzanne and Ric were living in Astoria, Queens, where they enjoyed all that 1980's New York City had to offer. They were engaged on Nantucket Island. They were later married at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church of Watervliet, NY on October 19, 1985. They left Astoria in 1989 to move back to Watervliet and start a family. Suzanne transferred to the Albany IBM office where her successful career continued. Their first child Matthew was born in 1990. Later two more sons Andrew and Alexander were born in 1992, and 1999, completing their family.

In 1994 they left Watervliet and moved to a large Victorian country home in Hoosick Falls, NY. The home was gracious but needed a lot of work. Many years were dedicated to restoring the home, while Suzanne used her unique talents to decorate it comfortably for her family and outfit it with everything needed to host perfect intimate parties and family events. Suzanne loved finding treasures at local auctions and estate sales. There wasn't a "free pile" that she could pass by. Many of the treasures were picked up with somebody in mind so she could give them a special meaningful gift. Other treasures were just given to people who may be looking for something and she'd say "I've got one of those! It's yours." She had at least one of "everything." She doted on friends and her many nieces and nephews in the same thoughtful way.

Suzanne left IBM in 2000 and dedicated herself to full-time raising her children and homemaking. Raising smart, happy, kind, and successful children became her focus. She understood that they were all unique and used her motherly skills to make each child feel special. She loved to cook elaborate meals, and make blackberry jam from her berry bushes whirling around the kitchen. The boys all attended St. Mary's Academy a block from home, and Suzanne spent those years as a steadfast booster of St. Mary's and the Immaculate Conception Church helping with fundraisers and events, and forming new friendships. Everyone knew they could count on Suzanne to bring her "stuff" (from tablecloths and display pieces to her gifted eye) and turn a gymnasium into a classy candlelit event venue, or to be there at the Funtastic Fair running a game to help out. She was made an honorary alumnus because of her tireless efforts. Suzanne returned to the workforce in 2013 working at several different companies as a successful and sought-after tech sales executive.

Suzanne had many passions, and one of the most important to her was travel. She researched and planned intimate trips for her and her husband as well as the many family vacations. The Caribbean, Europe, and all around the US. Her second favorite spot after Saratoga Lake was York, ME. She loved the ocean. The family went annually in the first week of September to celebrate her birthday and make lifelong memories.

Suzanne left the workforce in 2022 after the onset of psychosis. With the steadfast help and support of her family and friends she tried her best to battle the illness, but lost her battle in August of 2024. Her family finds comfort that she is no longer in turmoil and is at peace in heaven with her late parents Helen and Joe Kowalchyk. Suzanne's passing is a profound loss to her family and friends. Throughout her life, Suzanne was an outgoing, generous, classy, caring, and congenial woman; a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend that had a profound impact on everyone she touched. Suzanne's family would like to thank everyone who supported them and Suzanne during her difficult years.

Suzanne is survived by her loving husband Ric DiDonato; their children Matthew (Annie) DiDonato of Saratoga Springs, NY; Andrew (Heather) DiDonato of Hoosick Falls, NY; and Alexander DiDonato of Hoosick Falls, NY. Her grandchildren Tommy DiDonato, and Julien DiDonato. Her siblings Judith (Tracy) Carnavale of Colonie, NY; Joseph (Karen) Kowalchyk of Snohomish, WA; Stephen (Trish) Kowalchyk of Mooresville, NC; and JoAnne Foglia of Watervliet, NY, as well as many in-laws, nieces, and nephews.

Calling hours will be held at Parker Brothers Memorial in Watervliet, NY on Wednesday, August 14 from 4-7:30 pm. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Watervliet, NY on Thursday, August 15 at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Suzanne's memory to The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) at donate.nami.org/give/603392 Visit www.parkerbrosmemorial.com to leave a message of sympathy and for driving directions.