Susan Y. Gurdak

She was born on Feb. 19, 1955, in Jamestown, NY, to the late Lawrence and Bernadine “Bernie” Miller. Susan graduated from Jamestown High School in 1973, then started her work career at Unigard Insurance and Inter Royal. Later she was employed by Carborundum Manufacturing in Falconer, NY for 42 years until she retired in 2018.

Susan married Joe on Aug. 22, 1981 and they were together for 43 years. During that time, they enjoyed many wonderful times on their boat, water skiing at Kinzua Lake, taking car rides and trips in their latest model vehicle, and celebrating life with family and friends at reunions and gatherings.

The family dog, “Buffy,” was a real character that ran around the house and between the furniture so excited when you came home. She was extremely protective and Joe watched his step to get close to Susan. Buffy never got on the furniture and liked her basket by their bed at night.

Susan was a member of the Jehovah Witness Congregation, Union City, PA. She was baptized on Oct. 26, 2002. She will be remembered as a loving wife, step-mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.

Susan loved to travel with her husband, Joe, her sisters, family and friends. Her “Golden Girl” travel mates were Pam Miller, Sue Culver and Cece Clayton.

Other “favorite things” for Susan were yard sales, crossword puzzles, Sweet Tart candies, water skiing, driving the red corvette, gardening sun flowers and peonies, and hot buffalo chicken wing dip.

Susan is survived by her loving husband, Joseph Gurdak Sr.; her step-sons, Joseph (Becky) Gurdak Jr. of Spring Creek, PA, and Brian (Shelly) Gurdak of Columbus, PA; her sisters, Autumn Miller of Jamestown NY, Helen Miller, of Dunkirk NY, and Jennifer Allen of Gaithersburg, MD; her grandchildren, Curtis (Ashley) Gurdak, Brian Lee Gurdak, Allison Gurdak, Levi Drayer, Danielle Hall, and her significant other, Greg Bugbee, and Samantha (Mitch) Hyser; her great-grandchildren, Ellette and Ira Gurdak, Harper Gurdak, Kaleb Viguloti, Atlas, and Cruz Hyser as well as many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Susan was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Claude and Eugenia Reidell and her paternal grandparents, Clement and Ida Miller.

Susan’s celebration of life will be held on May 24, 2025 at the Corry Moose Lodge, 332 E. Washington St., Corry, PA 16407, from 1-6pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org or to Jehovah’s Witnesses at jw.org.

The Nelson Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 314 N. Main St., Youngsville, PA, have been entrusted with all arrangements. Condolences to the family may be made at nelsonfuneralhome.net.