A sad way to start the year

My sister-in-law, Susan Rivas, passed away yesterday at the age of 56. Although I knew she had been ill, not being in Erie with the family, I didn't realize how ill she had become so her death was a bit of a shock to me. There is an online obituary and guest book for anyone who would like to send Vinny and her son Chas a message.

Susan B. Rivas, 56, of Erie, passed on to a greater place on Thursday, January 14, 2010, at St. Vincent Hospital. She was born February 23, 1953, in Erie. She graduated from East High School. She was employed at Twinbrook Nursing Home and did private duty nursing care for 25 years. She loved and enjoyed flowers and plants. Susan was a loving and dedicated wife and mother. Preceded in death by her mother, Kathryn Schuster Bojack, and father, John Bojack. Survivors include her husband, Vincent L. Rivas, and son, Charles V. Rivas, both of Erie; brother, John Bojack and wife, Beth, of Richlands, N.C.; half-sisters, Kathy Sanguliano, of New York, N.Y., and Shirley Marchal, of Erie; and many nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to call at the John J. Quinn Funeral Home, West 9th & Liberty St., Friday, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. only, and are invited to attend Prayer Services there Saturday at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Andrew Catholic Church. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Andrew Catholic Church, 1116 West 7th St., Erie, PA 16502.