Susan C. Kornatowski

West Leyden – Susan C. Kornatowski, 68, passed away on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare, New Hartford.

Susan was born on April 21st, 1955 in Constableville, NY to the late Anthony and Estella (Ward) Kornatowski. She was the youngest child of 4. Survivors include a brother, Larry and Mary Kornatowski, many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and one brother-in-law Larry Kent. She had close bonds to her niece Jacki Kent, and special friends Sara Sweeney, Savannah Sweeney, Sheila Traxel, and April Lekki. She was predeceased by her sisters, Genevieve Dolan, and Virginia Kent, her parents Estella (Ward) and Anthony Kornatowski, brother-in-law Stephen Dolan Sr., nephews: Scott Dolan and Stephen Dolan, Jr.

Sue graduated from Adirondack Central School in 1973. She went on to attend SUNY College at Potsdam, earning a BA in elementary education in 1977. In September of 1977, just several months after graduation, Sue was severely injured in a car accident leaving her a paraplegic. After spending 6 months in the hospital, she came home paralyzed from the chest down forever confined to a wheelchair. After a few more months of rehab at home, Sue, with the support of her mom, started traveling to Utica to work on her Master’s degree, eventually receiving her degree from Cortland State College in 1984. Affectionately known as Suzie by friends and Miss “K” by students, Sue was a dedicated teacher for 27 years for Adirondack Central School District working in the West Leyden Elementary School from 1983-2010. She believed in an anonymous quote “to teach is to touch many lives forever” which she did in many ways above and beyond a normal classroom. There, she spent most of her career teaching second graders not only skills needed to succeed in school but life skills on how to live with a disability. Students accepted her in her wheelchair, showed great pride in helping her out around the classroom and developed a bond with her that lasted for years.

Along with her teaching career, Sue had many other interests and skills. She was an avid genealogist, researching all sides of her family back many generations. She also loved to paint ceramics, paint on wood, oil painting, leather crafting, macramé, crochet, cooking and reading. She was a member of the Town of Lewis Library Board for many years and being the librarian for a period of time. She loved her dogs and found great comfort in their love. She took great pride in all she did in her lifetime considering it was all done from her wheelchair. Prior to her accident, growing up she worked on her sister’s farm, in another sister’s restaurant as a cook and enjoyed the outdoors, her horses, sports, her pets and spending time at camp with her Mom. In college at Potsdam, she was instrumental in starting the Women’s volleyball team which she captained. In 1990 she was inducted into Potsdam State’s Sports Hall of Fame for her leadership in the Volleyball program. Other awards were VFW Citizenship Education Teacher Award recipient in 2002 and again in 2003.

Sue’s life was always a challenge that she met head on. She worked hard, trying to conquer all the problems of life in a wheelchair, maintaining her independence and trying to never let her disability stop her from what she wanted to do. She had to give up a lot of the fun things in life due to the wheelchair however her message to all is “Try to enjoy life with what you have been dealt even though those dealings may have never felt fair and you sometimes ask why me? Get over it and think of those who are worse off.”

In keeping with her wishes there are no calling hours or funeral services. A celebration of her life will be announced at a future date. Funeral arrangements are in care of the Trainor Funeral Home, Inc. 143 Schuyler St. Boonville. Memorial contributions may be made to The Town of Lewis Library, P.O. Box #121, West Leyden, NY 13489 or the Lewis County Humane Society, P.O. Box # 682, Lowville, New York 13367.