Suzanne Marie Tedesco Guzewich of Norwich, New York, Dies February 28

Suzanne Marie Tedesco Guzewich of Norwich, New York, died peacefully the evening of February 28, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She was 47.

She was born on May 13, 1975, in Southampton, to John L. Tedesco Jr. and Susan (Pantaleo) Tedesco.

She attended Hampton Bays High School and SUNY Cobleskill, where she earned an associate’s degree in early childhood education, a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oneonta elementary education, and a master’s degree in childhood eduction from SUNY Cortland.

Falling in love with the rolling hills and lakes of Central New York, she settled down in Norwich and began teaching at Stanford J. Gibson Primary School as a kindergarten and first grade teacher in 1999.

“Miss Tedesco,” later known as “Mrs. Guzewich” (pronounced Guz-h), was known to be a sweet, gentle soul, adored by her students, her family said. Her kind and loving spirit softened even the most unruly little saplings, and she inspired numerous students to eventually go into teaching as well. She was also a beloved coworker and friend to the other Gibson and district teachers and staff who knew her.

In 2005, she and her husband, Eric, brought their son Ethan into the world, followed by Timothy in 2008. She put everything she had into caring for her two sons and teaching them her gentle ways of kindness.

She was talented in cooking and baking, especially with allergen-free ingredients, her family said, which is not easy to do. She loved the outdoors and family vacations. Her favorite and proudest moments from the past few years include watching her kids thrive in extracurricular activities such as swimming, orchestra, and school musicals, her family said.

She is survived by her sons, Ethan and Timothy Guzewich; husband, Eric Guzewich; siblings, Donna (Rebecca) Tedesco, Theresa Tedesco, Lisa (Bob) Rice, and John F. Tedesco; parents, John and Susan Tedesco, of Sherburne; and honorary “daughter,” Julia Demeo.

With the challenges of the last couple of years, she was grateful for the surrounding love, laughter, companionship, and care of those closest to her, her family said, and embodied one of her favorite quotes: “Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you know.”

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at the Church of St. Paul’s, 30 Pleasant Street, Norwich, where the Reverend Daniel Caughey, will officiate. Burial will occur at St. Paul’s Cemetery in Norwich in the spring of 2023. Friends are invited to call at the Wilson Funeral Home, 68 South Broad Street, Norwich, on Tuesday, March 7, from 2-4 p.m. and 6–8 p.m. Words of remembrance will be held at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the Norwich Family YMCA, 68 North Broad St., Norwich, NY 13815.