Susan J. Whitman, 82, of Ocean passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 19th at her home surrounded by her loving family.
She was born in Paterson to Madeline and Serafino Tucci and moved to Long Branch shortly after her brother was born. Sue graduated from Long Branch High School in 1957 and worked in Administration at Ft. Monmouth, where she met her husband Bob Whitman. They were married in 1961 at Holy Trinity RC Church in Long Branch, where she was a parishioner, and they traveled the country while he served in the U.S. Army. They eventually returned to Monmouth County and settled in Ocean Township, where they lived together for the past 57 years.
Sue was an altruistic, compassionate person who would strike up a conversation with anyone. She never got stuck in a line without making a new friend. She adopted every stray animal that happened to cross her path. During the many years that she volunteered at a local food pantry, she adopted entire families as her own, providing them with rent as needed, clothing, and a full Christmas. She was an avid reader, reading multiple books a week, compiling stockpiles of books that she would pass on with commentary to anyone who would take them. Sue also enjoyed sewing, knitting, rooting on the Yankees, and was an accomplished pianist.
Sue loved caring for and feeding, her family and friends. She always made sure there were daily home-cooked meals, which usually included the vegetables that Bob grew in the backyard garden. She was well-known in the neighborhood and beyond for her homemade meatballs, chocolate chip cookies, and shoofly pie.
She always enjoyed her family vacations, first with her three children, and then extending to vacations of 18 that included her ten grandchildren. Nanny enjoyed doting on her grandchildren with shopping excursions to their favorite stores, keeping them overnight for weeks at a time, and taking them to anything educational, including routine visits to the theater, museums and aquariums.
Surviving is her husband of 60 years Robert E. Whitman; their children, Kimberly and her husband Alfred Trujillo, Nokesville, VA, Susan Whitman and her husband Joseph Steady, Millstone, NJ, and Robert A. Whitman and his wife Valerie, Westfield, NJ; her brother and sister-in-law, Alexis and Janet Tucci, West Long Branch, NJ; her ten grandchildren, Jonathan, Tyler, Lauren Trujillo, Austin, Alexa and Madison Steady, Bradley, Paige, Briana and Alison Whitman.
Sue deeply loved her family. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was a friend to all. The end of her life reflected how she lived; Susan was never alone – the unconditional love and care she provided for others was reflected in the flood of messages, meals, and visitors she received, as well as her children’s dedication to advocating for the best possible care they could find for her. Her selflessness, witty sense of humor, and love for her family remained even throughout her last days. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 5th, 10 AM, at Holy Trinity RC Church, Long Branch. Repast to follow immediately after.
Private interment services will be held on her family plot in St. Anne’s Cemetery, Wall. To share a favorite memory of Susan or send a message of condolences to her family, please visit Susan’s page of tributes at www.woolleyboglioli.com.