Obituary of Sue Anne Reiff

Sue Anne Reiff (1942–2025) Sue Anne Reiff, 82, of Parsippany, NJ, passed away on August 30, 2025, at Morristown Medical Center.

Born in Jersey City, NJ, on September 21, 1942, she was the daughter of James R. Reiff and Alice Kruse (Farrant), and later the beloved stepdaughter of Henry E. Kruse. Sue Anne’s life was defined by determination, grace, and love for those around her.

Sue Anne attended special education classes in Jersey City before moving to the North Jersey Developmental Center in Totowa at age 14, when her family relocated to Packanack Lake in Wayne. She stayed there until she was 40. In 1983, she joined the Finnegan House Group Home in Oakridge, operated by the Department for Persons with Disabilities (DPD) of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Paterson. Five years later, she moved to the Kelleher Supervised Apartments in Wayne, and later Butler. Always an advocate for her own care, she eventually moved to DPD’s Calabrese Group Home in Parsippany in 2020. In August 2023, she retired to Genesis Health Care in Parsippany-Troy Hills, where she remained until her passing.

She is survived by her brother, Wayne Kruse (Lisa); three nieces, Janna (Steve), Shannon, Jill; one nephew, Timothy(Mariel); and three grandnieces and two grandnephews.

Her mother, Alice, was deeply involved in Sue Anne’s life, often bringing her home on weekends and always ensuring her well-being. After Alice remarried, Sue Anne gained an extended family of loving aunts, uncles, and many cousins. Both Henry and Alice passed away too soon—Henry in 1977 and Alice in 1987—but their legacy of love and care lived on through Sue Anne’s brother and extended family.

Sue Anne maintained close ties with her aunts and uncles—Marion and Mac, Eileen and Mario, Sandy and Peter, Barbara and Ray, Lil and Steve, and Judy and Richie— through regular visits and correspondence. She shared treasured memories with loved ones during holiday visits and trips to Virginia, North Carolina, New York City, Georgia, and Florida. She especially enjoyed outings with her brother to Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Radio City, Broadway shows, and fine restaurants. She was particularly close to her Aunt Marion, Uncle Mac, their daughter Susan, and her two children, Evan and Alexandra. Aunt Marion affectionately nicknamed her “Susie Cute,” a name reflecting her warm spirit and the love she inspired.

Travel was one of Sue Anne’s greatest passions. Whether flying with assistance from airline escorts or vacationing with her housemates, she delighted in exploring new places—from Atlantic City and Virginia Beach to Niagara Falls, Toronto, and Nashville—along with many camping trips. She loved capturing memories with photographs and souvenirs.

Though humble and kind, Sue Anne had a flair for fashion. She enjoyed dressing up, doing her hair and nails, and carrying herself with elegance that drew admiration.

Sue Anne was very proud of her Catholic faith and Irish heritage. She looked forward to St. Patrick’s Day each year, sending greeting cards, creating crafts, attending parades, and enjoying traditional meals of corned beef and cabbage, Irish bread, and desserts. She loved attending Mass on Sundays or Saturdays, participating in C.A.R.E meetings, and joining parish events at St. Mary’s and with the Knights of Columbus. She also enjoyed copying and listening to Bible passages, often carrying a small novel to recite from memory and marking her progress with a bookmark.

Creative at heart, Sue Anne enjoyed arts and crafts such as hook rugs, sun catchers, needlepoint, ceramics, and crocheting. She especially loved making baby bonnets and bibs, joyfully gifting them to new mothers among her family and friends.

In 1999, she found a lifelong friend in volunteer Barbara Renaldo. Their bond grew through shopping trips, meals, and special outings, and Barbara was a constant presence in Sue Anne’s planning meetings and her life.

Sue Anne also built a meaningful work history. She held jobs at Highlands Easter Seals, McDonald’s in Lake Hopatcong, Friendly’s in Pompton Plains, and the Daughters of Miriam in Clifton. She generously volunteered at the Lake View Subacute Nursing Home in Wayne, where she assisted with recreational activities and distributed snacks. In her later years, she attended DPD’s Gruenert Center.

Sue Anne was a career Special Olympian, where she competed and won numerous medals in both bowling and track and field, alongside her Thunderbirds teammates.  In 2007, Sue Anne received the highest DPD resident’s honor, the Frank X. Graves Award.

Sue Anne will be remembered for her pure heart, adventurous spirit, caring nature, creative talents, faith, elegance, and the deep love she both gave and received throughout her life.

A Memorial Visitation will be held at Stephen J. Priola Funeral Service, 60 N Beverwyck Rd, Lake Hiawatha, NJ, on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 12–2 PM.

In remembrance of Sue Anne, donations to Catholic Charities - Diocese of Paterson, FBO Department for Persons with Disabilities, would be greatly appreciated: 777 Valley Road, Clifton, NJ 07013, or online at https://ccpaterson.org/ donate