Susan J. Sucy
October 6, 1922 ~ April 8, 2023
Susan J. Sucy
“My Grandma Sue”
My Grandma Sue was over 100 years old when she passed away on Saturday, April 8, 2023. She was a devout Catholic and a faithful member of Our Lady of Good Council parish. Along with her parents, she is predeceased by her husband, Frank Sucy; and brothers, George S. Sobeck Jr. and Robert Sobeck. She is survived by her three children, Karen Sucy and Robert Watkinson (Debbie) of VA, and Mark of MD; and grandchildren, Christine Watkinson and Michael Watkinson (Hannah) of VA.
Born on October 6, 1922 in Luzerne, Pennsylvania, she was the only daughter of George S. Sobeck Sr. and Elizabeth K. Robertine Sobeck. World War I was over in 1919, which was three years before she was born. The Stock Market crashed in 1929 and the Great Depression followed and lasted throughout her childhood. She grew up very poor. Her town was very poor and known for its anthracite coal (soft coal) mines. Everybody she knew in the North East area was poor.
As a young girl, she remembered that she had a doll and not much else. Her family was too poor to buy toys. However, she did have crayons for school. Her older brother had a blackboard and chalk, and he let my grandmother use his roller skates when she was about 10 or 11 years old. They had no bicycles. She also started taking piano lessons. The teacher lived across the street and charged 50 cents an hour. Her family could not afford to continue with the lessons, however, even after the teacher reduced the price to 25 cents an hour.
My Grandma Sue learned many skills from her mother. She learned how to embroider at 6 years old. She also learned how to crochet, cook and work around the house. She learned how to sew by watching her mother who sewed dresses for friends and neighbors for 50 cents. She then used that 50 cents as a downpayment on underwear or linens for curtains.
The little grocery store and doctor’s office allowed them to run up tabs and pay them when they were able. They did this for all their neighbors they knew well. Milk was delivered to the house once a day. There were two mail deliveries every day (Monday through Friday) and once on Saturday. Sugar was 5 cents a pound, and women would complain a lot if it went up to 6 cents a pound. Bread was 5 cents a loaf.
Living through the Depression was a learning experience. Grandma lived frugally her whole life. She tried to get the most value out of her dollar, and she appreciated things more.
Grandmother’s family managed to buy a house. And my Grandma’s father who worked for the American Can Company lost his job right after they moved in. His company relocated to North Carolina, and he did not want to go.
When Grandma was 10-11 years old, her family got a car. It was only for a short time though. Grandma doesn’t remember airplane options; however, she wasn’t interested in them either.
The first Kleenex tissue was a thrill—a paper handkerchief. She did not have frozen food at first. Then, Ice Cream became a real treat. She never heard of broccoli. She did not have much to eat, and she did not have many clothes.
Grandma’s High School did not have Shop classes or Home Ec. They taught French, but she did not take a language. She took typing, shorthand and bookkeeping. She was able to take shorthand at 120 words per minute. After high school, she went to a Settlement House, which was like a Community Center, and learned Gregg Courthouse Steno.
Grandma had acquired good job skills, but the coal-mining area in Pennsylvania had no jobs. The time was around the beginning of World War II. So, my Grandma left home to go to Washington DC, where she took a Government test and got a job for the Fiscal Division of Social Security. Under President Truman’s Reorganization Plan II, her office became part of the Labor Department.
Things finally started looking better after she left home to come to Washington to get a Government job. Grandma remembered streetcars in DC, which gave way to buses, and now current transportation trend is the Metro.
Fashions changed a lot. Slacks were not worn by women, only homemade cotton dresses and aprons. Grandma got her first pair of slacks when she came to Washington. She liked wearing slacks and thought this was the fashion change she liked the most because slacks provided more comfort, and they were better for working in the garden.
Grandma had no television. Her family had one radio—no FM, only AM. She gathered round with the family to hear Sunday programs. Her favorite show was “The Shadow.” She remembered listening to President Franklin Delao Roosevelt’s Pearl Harbor address in December 1941.
Her family had the only telephone on the block because her Dad was Secretary of the Town Council. If something important came in, she relayed the message to the neighbors, and neighbors used their telephone if they had to make a phone call.
Grandma felt computers were a good improvement, although she never used one. Her husband had a computer, and he knew how to do computer programming. She never learned how to use a computer.
Grandma saw a lot of changes in household appliances. Her family used to have a coal stove. Her mother used to burn newspapers in the stove in the morning to heat her oatmeal. Most people used to heat their irons on the coal stove before pressing their clothes. Grandma’s family was lucky enough to have an electric iron.
For the last 70 years of her life, Grandma had a gas stove, and she thought it was a big improvement.
Women’s lives have changed a lot. When Grandma was growing up, women became nurses or secretaries. Today, women can go into any field they choose.
The world has changed a lot in 100 years and continues to do so in all areas. Computers, Internet, Cell Phones, and Robotics never existed in Grandma’s day. She has also seen great strides in Medicine and cures for diseases, etc.
“My Grandma Sue”
My Grandma Sue was over 100 years old when she passed away on Saturday, April 8, 2023. She was a devout Catholic and a faithful member of Our Lady of Good Council parish. Along with her parents, she is predeceased by her husband, Frank Sucy; and brothers, George S. Sobeck Jr. and Robert Sobeck. She is survived by her three children, Karen Sucy and Robert Watkinson (Debbie) of VA, and Mark of MD; and grandchildren, Christine Watkinson and Michael Watkinson (Hannah) of VA.
Born on October 6, 1922 in Luzerne, Pennsylvania, she was the only daughter of George S. Sobeck Sr. and Elizabeth K. Robertine Sobeck. World War I was over in 1919, which was three years before she was born. The Stock Market crashed in 1929 and the Great Depression followed and lasted throughout her childhood. She grew up very poor. Her town was very poor and known for its anthracite coal (soft coal) mines. Everybody she knew in the North East area was poor.
As a young girl, she remembered that she had a doll and not much else. Her family was too poor to buy toys. However, she did have crayons for school. Her older brother had a blackboard and chalk, and he let my grandmother use his roller skates when she was about 10 or 11 years old. They had no bicycles. She also started taking piano lessons. The teacher lived across the street and charged 50 cents an hour. Her family could not afford to continue with the lessons, however, even after the teacher reduced the price to 25 cents an hour.
My Grandma Sue learned many skills from her mother. She learned how to embroider at 6 years old. She also learned how to crochet, cook and work around the house. She learned how to sew by watching her mother who sewed dresses for friends and neighbors for 50 cents. She then used that 50 cents as a downpayment on underwear or linens for curtains.
The little grocery store and doctor’s office allowed them to run up tabs and pay them when they were able. They did this for all their neighbors they knew well. Milk was delivered to the house once a day. There were two mail deliveries every day (Monday through Friday) and once on Saturday. Sugar was 5 cents a pound, and women would complain a lot if it went up to 6 cents a pound. Bread was 5 cents a loaf.
Living through the Depression was a learning experience. Grandma lived frugally her whole life. She tried to get the most value out of her dollar, and she appreciated things more.
Grandmother’s family managed to buy a house. And my Grandma’s father who worked for the American Can Company lost his job right after they moved in. His company relocated to North Carolina, and he did not want to go.
When Grandma was 10-11 years old, her family got a car. It was only for a short time though. Grandma doesn’t remember airplane options; however, she wasn’t interested in them either.
The first Kleenex tissue was a thrill—a paper handkerchief. She did not have frozen food at first. Then, Ice Cream became a real treat. She never heard of broccoli. She did not have much to eat, and she did not have many clothes.
Grandma’s High School did not have Shop classes or Home Ec. They taught French, but she did not take a language. She took typing, shorthand and bookkeeping. She was able to take shorthand at 120 words per minute. After high school, she went to a Settlement House, which was like a Community Center, and learned Gregg Courthouse Steno.
Grandma had acquired good job skills, but the coal-mining area in Pennsylvania had no jobs. The time was around the beginning of World War II. So, my Grandma left home to go to Washington DC, where she took a Government test and got a job for the Fiscal Division of Social Security. Under President Truman’s Reorganization Plan II, her office became part of the Labor Department.
Things finally started looking better after she left home to come to Washington to get a Government job. Grandma remembered streetcars in DC, which gave way to buses, and now current transportation trend is the Metro.
Fashions changed a lot. Slacks were not worn by women, only homemade cotton dresses and aprons. Grandma got her first pair of slacks when she came to Washington. She liked wearing slacks and thought this was the fashion change she liked the most because slacks provided more comfort, and they were better for working in the garden.
Grandma had no television. Her family had one radio—no FM, only AM. She gathered round with the family to hear Sunday programs. Her favorite show was “The Shadow.” She remembered listening to President Franklin Delao Roosevelt’s Pearl Harbor address in December 1941.
Her family had the only telephone on the block because her Dad was Secretary of the Town Council. If something important came in, she relayed the message to the neighbors, and neighbors used their telephone if they had to make a phone call.
Grandma felt computers were a good improvement, although she never used one. Her husband had a computer, and he knew how to do computer programming. She never learned how to use a computer.
Grandma saw a lot of changes in household appliances. Her family used to have a coal stove. Her mother used to burn newspapers in the stove in the morning to heat her oatmeal. Most people used to heat their irons on the coal stove before pressing their clothes. Grandma’s family was lucky enough to have an electric iron.
For the last 70 years of her life, Grandma had a gas stove, and she thought it was a big improvement.
Women’s lives have changed a lot. When Grandma was growing up, women became nurses or secretaries. Today, women can go into any field they choose.
The world has changed a lot in 100 years and continues to do so in all areas. Computers, Internet, Cell Phones, and Robotics never existed in Grandma’s day. She has also seen great strides in Medicine and cures for diseases, etc.
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