Obituary of Suzanne M Wells
Albion: Suzanne Marie (DiLaura) Wells
After a 4 year battle with Pancreatic Cancer, Suzanne passed away peacefully on June 19th, 2019. Suzanne was born to Ellis and Catherine (Aina) DiLaura on December 1st, 1949. Suzanne is survived by her husband of 47 years, Robert Wells of Kent, NY, her children Christopher Wells of Cary, NC, Jennifer Wells-Dickerson (Kenneth) of Hamlin, NY, four grandchildren Ryushin and Yuka Wells, and Alice and Josephine Dickerson. Brother David DiLaura of Albion, and Sister Mary (DiLaura) Bullock (Tom Schleicher) of Chester, VA, nephews Corey (Lori) Bullock and Nathan Bullock. Brother-in-Law and sister-in-law, James and Kathryn Wells, and nieces Amy (Scott) Krebbeks, Sarah Wells, Emily Wells, and Margaret Wells. Sister-in-law Barbara (Stephen) Arbo, nephews Andrew (Jennifer) Arbo and Matthew (Laura) Arbo. As well many additional cherished family, friends and students.
Suzanne graduated from Albion High School in 1967 and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Art Education from State University College at Buffalo in 1971. While attending college she travelled for a semester to Siena, Italy for Experiment in International Living. She taught art at Albion High School from 1971-2005, during which she received many awards and honors including; VFW Department of NY Citizenship Education Teacher Award 2002, and was nominated several years for Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. She was also a former member of GoArt, Batavia Society of Artists, and the Albion Art Club at Marti’s on Main.
Suzanne was a lifelong member of Holy Family (St. Joseph’s) Parish, where she sang in the choir from age 13. She shared the gift of her beautiful voice at many weddings and funerals. She was also a member of Catholic Daughters of The Americas Court 953.
In 2017, Suzanne, along with her husband Bob, were recipients of the Mussomeli award at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Buffalo, NY, where each year the church honors a special descendent from Mussomeli at the Madonna of Miracles Festival. This annual festival commemorates the healing of a “paralytic” in the Sicilian village of Mussomeli in 1530 by intercession of the Virgin Mary.
In 2018, Suzanne and her family walked in the Step it Up 5k at RIT and raised over $3000 for pancreatic cancer research.
Each year, over 55,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer are diagnosed with a 5 year survival rate of less than 5%.
Memorials can made to Pancreatic Cancer Association of Western NY, www.pcawny.org PO Box 24580 Rochester, NY 14624-0580
The family will receive friends at the Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes, Inc. 21 West Ave. Albion, NY 14411 on Monday, June 24th from 2:00-4:00 & 7:00-9:00pm. Suzanne’s Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Family Parish-St. Joseph’s Church W. Park St. Albion on Tuesday, June 25th at 9:30am. Interment will be held in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.