Colette M. "Tootsie" Suminski

Colette Suminski ObituaryObituary published on Legacy.com by Heritage Funeral Home – Bay View from Mar. 3 to Mar. 6, 2026.Colette M. Suminski1944 – 2026When asked what life advice she has to offer, Colette simply stated to "take life as it comes." This statement is a testament to the type of woman Colette was. She was a strong, persistent and resilient woman with a beautiful soul who overcame all the challenges life presented to her. She loved her family and held a strong faith in God.Colette "Tootsie" was born to Alfred and Angeline (Kubisiak) Miller on March 25, 1944. The oldest of four sisters and one brother, Colette grew up with her siblings in Muskego on Priegel Dr. Around the family home, she and her sisters loved to go ice skating and fishing. As a young girl and a continuing theme throughout her life, Colette enjoyed drawing, music and the fiber arts. She learned to play piano and sketched landscapes, flowers and birds, but her true passion was sewing. Her love of sewing was fostered through the local 4H chapter near her home. Her skill quickly grew, and her exhibitions in sewing, along with cooking, were entered into the 4H competitions. At these competitions she was often awarded blue ribbons and was a topic in the stories of the local paper for her achievements. One of her most notable achievements was being awarded the purple grand prize at the Wisconsin State Fair for a wool shirt she made for her father. She can also boast organizing the wool shows for a couple of years. At home, she created countless clothes for her family, sewing dresses and knitting sweaters.She graduated from Mercy High School and went on to receive her Bachelors in Science in Home Economics with a minor in Art from Alverno College in 1966. Using her knowledge and passion, she was first employed at McCoy's where she helped Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontaine shop for decorator fabric. She then transitioned to working as a fabric buyer for the collection of Kohl's Department Stores.In her 20s, she met the man who would later become her husband of 42 years, John. It was during an event sponsored by Catholic Alumni Association for single Catholic College graduates. They had both come to a fish-fry at the Press Club in Milwaukee. Though Colette came with a friend, she opted to leave with John, sparking the beginnings of what would turn into the love and commitment of their marriage. They were married November 7, 1970 at St. James Parish in Mukwonago, with a reception at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Waterford. As a showcase for her talent as a seamstress, she crafted her wedding dress and all the bridesmaid dresses. Although she was born and raised in southeastern Wisconsin, her heart made a home in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. In 1976, she and John moved "up north" to own and operate funeral homes in Wabeno and Crandon and raise their family. Along with operating the funeral homes, Colette also ran her flower shop – the Hide-a-way Flower Shop in Wabeno. In her spare time, she honed her skills in the fiber arts with weaving, knitting and crocheting. She could often be seen featuring her creations at local craft fairs.Colette and John were blessed with four children – Theresa, Matthew, Jean and Mary. As a parent, she modeled her care and devotion for her children through her actions – creating a home environment with daily family meals from home cooked dishes often prepared with John's harvest from the garden and fostering each of her children's passions by creating opportunities for them to grow. Some of the lasting values she instilled in her children are of loyalty, commitment, being self-reliant, hardworking and thrifty.Summertime meant lake life. With their family in tow, Colette and John would pack up to move to the lake house where they spent the summers as a family enjoying all that lake living had to offer – sun, swimming, boating, fishing. Eventually, they would call Suminski Shores on Lake Lucerne their home for the later years spent in Forest County.Another joy in her life were her grandchildren – Holly, Alex and Elena. She loved spending time with them, passing on her skills, teaching them to knit, crochet, sew, cook and bake. Some of Colette's favorite from scratch recipes to pass onto them included banana bread, stollen and Paczki.As empty nesters and into their golden years, upon retiring after 40 years from their life "up north," Colette and John moved back to their roots to southeastern Wisconsin, first in Waterford and then her home in the Bay View neighborhood of Milwaukee. She continued to showcase her creations at maker's markets. She made what would be her final home in the Bay View neighborhood of Milwaukee to be close to two of her children. Even so, during the summers you could find her back in the Northwoods, enjoying peaceful lake life. In addition to her trips up north during, she looked forward to the annual sister's weekends every fall, reminiscing and exploring Taliesin in Spring Green, cooking classes in Lake Geneva, and seeing Titanic at the Fireside Dinner Theatre.Colette's life wasn't free from challenges. Hers and the family's faith were tested when Jean was diagnosed with cancer. They journeyed with her in her courageous battle, and in her death, they clung to each other and to the promises of God. She would again be tested with the loss of her husband and her own journey with cancer. Her journey with cancer would span 17 years. Throughout those years, she exhibited a quiet strength most would aspire to. She had faith that she could thrive through it, always working toward eliminating it from her life. She never lost hope and held onto her faith and inner strength until the end of her journey.Born to eternal life Sunday, March 1, 2026 at the age of 81.Cherished mother of Theresa (Jeff Karriker) Neddo, Matthew Suminski, and Mary K. Suminski. Loving grandmother of Holly Neddo, Alex Neddo, and Elena Neddo. Dear sister of Karen (William) Brown, Janet (the late William) Hubbard, Michael (Barbara) Miller, Susan Miller, and Krystine Miller. Further survived by other relatives and friends.Preceded in death by her beloved husband John R. Suminski and daughter Jean Marie Suminski.In lieu of flowers memorials to Father Carr's Place 2B Life Enrichment Center https://fathercarrs.org/To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.