Agatha "Ida" Sunser

Agatha “Ida” Sunser, 102, of Fairmount, passed away Wednesday, October 5, 2011 after a brief illness, with her family by her side. Born in Ali, in the province of Messina, Italy, on Wednesday, August 4, 1909, she was the daughter of Joseph Ponto and Madeline Fiumara Ponto. She came to the United States through Ellis Island at age 11 and lived in East Syracuse before moving to Fairmount 69 years ago. Ida worked as a seamstress at Learbury’s for many years and then was employed with Sam Rao Florist for 56 years. She was affectionately known as the geranium lady and later worked every year with the holiday plants. She was a communicant of Holy Family Church and member of the Holy Family Seniors. She was also a member of the national and local American Italian Heritage Assn. and volunteered for many years with the Camillus Octagon House. Ida was a lifetime member of the Camillus Senior Citizens and Fairmount Garden Club, where she participated in many horticulture competitions at the NY State Fair. She enjoyed gardening, traveling and cooking and loved being with her family. Ida was predeceased by her husband, Samuel John Sunser, on April 29, 1992. Surviving are her daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia and Donald Schmidt of Liverpool and Josephine "Joy" and Tim Flood of Fairmount; son and daughter-in-law, Carl J. and Penny of Fulton; grandchildren, Stephanie Sunser, Jason Flood (Ross Mothersell), Christopher (Liz) Schmidt and Heather (Jeffrey) Sunser-Schremp; and great-grandchildren, Nicolas and Daniel Schremp. Relatives and friends may call Friday, October 7 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Buranich Funeral Home, 5431 W. Genesee St., Camillus. Services will be Saturday, October 8 at 8:30 a.m. at the funeral home and at 9 a.m. in Holy Family Church where a funeral Mass will be celebrated. Entombment will be in Resurrection Chapel Mausoleum, St. Mary's Cemetery, DeWitt. Contributions may be made in Ida’s memory to Holy Family Food Pantry, 127 Chapel Dr., Syracuse, NY 13219.