Gertrude Gunda Suorsa, 84, of Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, and formerly of Slippery Rock, passed away at The Grove at Harmony, located in Harmony, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.

She was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 4, 1936, to Gottfried Ullrich and Rosa Meixner Ullrich.

She married Paul Suorsa on Jan. 24, 1959, and he survives at their residence.

Gertrude graduated from Allegheny College in 1958 with a BS in biology.

She came alongside her husband, Dr. Paul Suorsa, in operating a veterinary practice in Slippery Rock for many years. The practice continues under the care of their son, Dr. Dan Suorsa, and his wife, Tiffany.

Gertrude called herself a "horse-crazy girl," and she was blessed with a dad who indulged her with a horse in her teens and a veterinarian husband with whom she partnered in establishing the Arabian horse breeding farm, "Arcadian Arabians" from the first year of their marriage. They raised many beautiful and award-winning horses over the 30-plus years of their breeding farm's operations, then they transitioned to raising miniature donkeys and goats in their later years.

Their farm lifestyle enriched the raising of their four children, and it was to her great delight to share this also with her grandchildren.

She was a former member of St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, now part of St. Faustina Roman Catholic Parish in Slippery Rock.

Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Paul; daughter, Katherine (Kevin) Super of Cranberry Township; son, Richard (Lynne) Suorsa of Colorado; daughter, Susan (Harold) Brydon of Butler; and son, Dr. Daniel (Tiffany) Suorsa of Slippery Rock; sister, Sunny Ullrich of Florida; eight grandchildren:, Nathan and Colin Super, Michaela and John Brydon, Cameron, Heston, Reagan and Landen Suorsa.

She is preceded in death by her parents, and brother, Werner Ullrich.

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 670 S. Main St., Slippery Rock, on Friday, July 23, 2021, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Father Sean Francis presiding.

Family will receive friends at the Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock, on Thursday, July 22, 2021, from 4 to 7 p.m. Interment will be in Slippery Rock Cemetery.