Obituary of Zita Catherine Speer

Zita Catherine Speer, a 64-year resident of Monticello, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at the age of 103.

The youngest of seven children, Zita was born on April 11, 1921 in Sugar Notch, PA.  Zita graduated from Ashley-Sugar Notch High School in 1940. Upon graduating high school, Zita went on to attend beauty school to fulfill her ambition to become a beautician. 

Zita met the love of her life, Harold Speer, when she was 14 after a friend set them up on a blind date. Harold and Zita had a courtship that lasted six years. Harold proposed to Zita in a letter while he was overseas fighting the war in 1943. Harold and Zita were married on September 3, 1945 in St. Charles Catholic Church in Sugar Notch, PA.

Zita and Harold moved to Monticello in 1960 with their two young sons, Philip and Michael. Zita retired from Sullivan Internal Medical Group where she was a receptionist for many years. Prior to that, Zita also worked at the Laurels Hotel on Sackett Lake and the NY Phone Company as a switchboard operator.

A devout Catholic, Zita never missed a weekly mass and had a ritual of praying the Rosary daily. Zita was also a devoted Yankees fan, so we can only assume that some of those daily prayers were reserved for them. Zita was a faithful parishioner of St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Zita was also active in the community. She was a member of the Monticello Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary, Monticello Senior Citizen’s Club and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. Zita was awarded the Town of Thompson RSVP Senior of the Year in 2018, at the age of 97.

Zita was a vibrant and fiercely independent woman, living alone, and thriving until the age of 102. Zita had a personality that was infectious and touched everyone who knew her. She will always be remembered for her spunk and no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is demeanor. Zita was also incredibly giving and loving. She devoted many of her retired years to being a caregiver to Harold as he battled Alzheimer’s disease for nearly a decade until he passed in 2011.

Zita was a proud wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandma, sister, aunt and friend to many. Zita is survived by her two sons, Philip Speer of Monticello and Michael Speer and his wife, Debbie of White Sulphur Springs. She is also survived by her four grandchildren: Shawn Speer and his wife Amanda Petrone-Speer, Ryan Speer and his husband Blake Starner, Kevin Speer and his wife Cyndi Speer and Carly Speer. Zita is also survived by seven great-grandchildren who she adored: Finn, Aden, Addyson and Grayson Speer and Dylan, Ayden and Hunter Buschell. Zita is also survived by several nieces and nephews, her dear friends Nelly Culligan and Mary Garber.

In addition to her husband, Harold, Zita was predeceased by her parents, Philip and Bridget Kane Duffy; her siblings Mary Duffy, Hannah Scanlon, Margaret Duffy, Eileen Schmidt, Philip Duffy and James Duffy. She was also predeceased by a daughter-in-law, Susan Culligan Speer.

The Speer family would like to thank the staff at Achieve Rehab and Nursing, especially Zita’s “girls”, as she affectionately called them, for the quality of care and level of compassion they provided over the past year.

Family & friends are invited to gather on Saturday, August 31st from 10 am-12:30pm at the VanInwegen – Kenny Funeral Home 401 Broadway in Monticello. Her funeral mass will be celebrated following calling hours at St. Peter’s Church, on Broadway and Liberty Street in Monticello with Fr. Bob Porpora officiating.  Burial will take place at the family plot in St. Peter’s Cemetery.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Monticello Fire Department at 23 Richardson Avenue, Monticello, NY 12701.

Arrangements are under the direction of the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home of Monticello NY; for additional information or to send an online condolence, please visit www.kennyfuneralhome.com