Obituary of Suzanne Kay Arrasate

Suzanne Kay Arrasate of Mt. Arlington, aged 54, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on February 3rd. Her loving heart, compassion, and brilliance will be missed by many. Suzy was born in Alabama to Clarke and Martha (née Hambrick) Neal. Being the daughter of an Army Colonel, Suzy experienced many different cities and schools all over the country. The family finally settled in New Jersey where Suzy graduated with an art degree from William Paterson University. She worked for many years at Peggy Karr Glass, first in the shipping department and then as Art Director. After PKG, she went into marketing management at Rutgers University Press and then Cozzoli Machine Company in Somerset, NJ. Suzy was an immensely gifted artist, photographer, and craftsperson. She was also an avid reader, her book collection numbering in the hundreds. Her love of movies knew no bounds, from camp classics to action films to period pieces. If it had been filmed, she had seen it. Suzy was well-informed on current events and had an in-depth knowledge of history, but her true passions were wildlife and conservation efforts. She loved animals, great and small, and exhaustively cared for all the creatures in her own backyard. She leaves many happy memories to her cherished family: husband Michael Arrasate; daughters Victoria Cardozo and Caitlin Zotynia; grandchildren Alex and Joshua Cardozo; mother Martha Neal; siblings Martin, Kathryn, and Charles Neal; sister-in-law Suzanne Neal; nephews Clayton and Collin Neal and Garrett Glowacki; son-in-law Frank Zotynia, Jr; stepdaughter Christie Doerr and husband Tom; dogs Matilda and Penelope, along with many more loving relatives and dear friends. Relatives and friends may visit on Tuesday, February 7 from 3-7PM, with religious services beginning at 5PM, at the Norman Dean Home for Services, 16 Righter Avenue, Denville. In lieu of flowers, the family asks instead for donations to be made in her memory to the good works of the ASPCA or St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center.