Rose Suits

Rose Suits, 100, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on January 29, 2024.

Rose’s maternal grandparents immigrated from the Ukraine. Her grandfather, Joseph Ginda, came to the United States in the late 1890’s and her grandmother, Rosalia Wozniak Ginda, followed several years later, bringing their two children, Katherine and Anthony with her. After arriving, they welcomed son Michael, daughter Mary and finally Rose’s mother Anna, in 1905. Rose’s grandparents purchased a home in Carteret and then another home directly across the street. These homes were later passed down to Rose’s mother and father and Rose’s aunt and uncle. Rose enjoyed growing up in Carteret, in a close-knit family with her cousins right across the street. They grew up more like siblings than cousins. Rose fondly remembered playing games with her cousins every evening after dinner.

Rose’s father, Alexander Skurat, was born in Ansonia, CT. Rose, her parents and sister Marion lived through the Great Depression and after the 1929 market crash, they did not have many luxuries. She often told stories of how she and her sister enjoyed playing with toys and dollhouses their father would make for them out of cigar boxes. Rose’s second sister, Priscilla, was born when Rose was 16.

When Rose was in high school, she found her love of music and singing and did many solos in her school programs. She became a member of the band playing the mellophone, which is similar to the French horn. She also played the piano. While in elementary school, Rose skipped from 1st to 2nd grade, and in turn graduated from high school at the age of 16 in 1940. She was Valedictorian of her class and received an academic scholarship as well as a voice scholarship to New Jersey College for Women in New Brunswick, NJ, where she was a music major. While in college, Rose sang in the school choir. She graduated college in June of 1944 on D-Day.

Her first job was as a music teacher in Hackettstown, NJ. After a year of teaching, she obtained a job with New Jersey Bell Telephone Company and worked there for 37 years. She became the Business Office Supervisor after 2 years, and held several other positions, until becoming Manager in the Business Services Department.

In 1947 she met Carl O. Suits by way of a blind date. They attended a New Year’s Eve dance and were inseparable ever since. They were later married on October 30, 1948, in the Presbyterian Church in Bound Brook.

Rose loved reading, singing, gardening, painting, knitting, sewing, golf, swimming, the opera and classical music. She was a legendary member of Bound Brook Presbyterian Church for 78 years. She was always very involved with the church, singing with the choir, being an Elder, helping with church functions and donating her hand-made crafts to the church for the Bazaar every year. She belonged to the Women’s Literary Club of Bound Brook for over 26 years. Rose cherished her family, loved helping care for her grandchildren when they were young and spending time together with her family. The last years of her life were spent living with her daughter and son-in-law. During this time, she enjoyed reading books, doing puzzles and playing games with her family, which she usually won. She was always very happy when her grandchildren and great-grandchildren would come by to visit. She was an amazing woman, devoted to God, the matriarch of her family. At 100 years old, she would begin her day by reading her email, keeping up with the news & politics, playing Words with Friends on her tablet and doing her morning exercises. She was truly admired and will be deeply missed by so many who loved her.

Rose is predeceased by her grandparents, parents, sisters, and husband Carl (1974).

She is survived by her daughter, Janet Sutton and husband, Keith; her 4 grandchildren – Heather Shearer Klobusicky and her husband Edward, Scott Shearer, Thomas Shearer and his wife, Nicole and Christopher Sutton and his wife, Jamie. She is also survived by 3 great-grandchildren, Taya Renee Klobusicky, Cynthia Sutton and Jason Shearer.

Services were private in the care of Hagan-Chamberlain Funeral Home