GUILDERLAND — Suzanne E. DiBartolomeo was a consummate caregiver, her family says. As a nurse, she cared for her patients and always put her family first, caring for them.

She died on Monday, Oct. 25, 2021, at Albany Medical Center, after a very brief illness. She was 76.

She was born in Schenevus, New York on April 14, 1945, the daughter of the late Harold Nelson and Beatrice Grace Derenthal. She graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School and received a nursing degree from Fulton Montgomery Community College.

“Suzanne began her long and distinguished nursing career at her beloved St. Clare’s Hospital, working on 3 West,” her family wrote in a tribute. “Her 30-plus-year career spanned a number of clinical settings, caring for patients throughout our community.

“A consummate caregiver, Suzanne continued to care for family, friends, and her beloved husband after her retirement in 2012. Suzanne always put her family first and was the ultimate example of selflessness. A perfect day for Suzanne was to be surrounded by her family and friends, laughing and cooking a meal in her kitchen that she made with love for those she cherished most.

“A woman of great faith, she was a communicant of St. Paul the Apostle Church for much of her life.”

Her deeply loved big brother, Harold Nelson Jr., died before her, as did her dear niece, Donna Nelson.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Richard J. DiBartolomeo, whom she married on Sept. 18, 1976; by her loving children, Jeffrey and his wife, Emily DiBartolomeo, and her daughter, Amy DiBartolomeo. Her most treasured gift in life was being Nonni to her three grandchildren, Olivia, John, and Michael DiBartolomeo.

She is also survived by her sister, Alfreda Marek; sister-in-law, Lydia Nelson; nieces and nephews, James, Randy and William Marek; Harold III, Kristine, and Erik Nelson, and by her lifelong best friend and “sister,” Merrilene Kingsland.

“The DiBartolomeo family is grateful to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Albany Medical Neuro Intensive Care Unit/ B2, for their care, compassion and dignity shown to Suzanne and our family,” the tribute said. “Suzanne prided herself on the quality of care given to patients and their families during their time of greatest need and the care she received would have surely made her proud.”

Services will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 2, at 10 a.m. from the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home at 501 Union Street in Schenectady, then to St. Paul the Apostle Church, Albany Street, where a Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. All in attendance must wear a mask. Interment will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to a local food pantry, a veteran organization, or to support the health-care workers who bravely work to care for our community.