Gertrude Suorsa

Gertrude Gunda Suorsa, 84, of Cranberry Township, and formerly of Slippery Rock, passed away at The Grove at Harmony, located in Harmony, on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.

She was born in New Castle, on Aug. 4, 1936, and was the daughter to Gottfried Ullrich and Rosa Meixner Ullrich.

She married Paul Suorsa on Jan. 24, 1959, and he survives her at their residence.

Gertrude graduated from Allegheny College in 1958 with a BS in biology. She came alongside her husband, Dr. Paul Suorsa, in operating a veterinary practice in Slippery Rock for many years. The practice continues under the care of their son, Dr. Dan Suorsa, and his wife, Tiffany.

Gertrude called herself a “horse-crazy girl,” and she was blessed with a dad who indulged her with a horse in her teens and a veterinarian husband with whom she partnered in establishing the Arabian horse breeding farm, “Arcadian Arabians,” from the first year of their marriage. They raised many beautiful and award-winning horses over more than 30 years of their breeding farm's operations, and then they transitioned to raising miniature donkeys and goats in their later years. Their farm lifestyle enriched the raising of their four children, and it was to her great delight to share this also with her grandchildren.

She was a former member of St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, now part of St. Faustina Roman Catholic Parish in Slippery Rock.

Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Paul; daughter, Katherine (Kevin) Super of Cranberry Township; son, Richard (Lynne) Suorsa of Colorado; daughter, Susan (Harold) Brydon of Butler; and son, Dr. Daniel (Tiffany) Suorsa of Slippery Rock; sister, Sunny Ullrich of Florida; eight grandchildren: Nathan and Colin Super; Michaela and John Brydon; and Cameron, Heston, Reagan and Landen Suorsa.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and brother, Werner Ullrich.

Suorsa — Family of Gertrude Gunda Suorsa, who died Wednesday, July 14, 2021, will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 22, 2021, at the Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock .

A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 23, 2021, at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 670 S. Main St., Slippery Rock, with the Rev. Father Sean Francis presiding.

Interment will be in Slippery Rock Cemetery.