Long-time resident dies at 101 years old

Reverend Anita “Pat” Sumell died peacefully in her East Meadow home surrounded by family on Feb. 3. The Ireland-born woman moved from County Cavan to Brooklyn at 16 years old to live with her aunt. The churchgoer was brought up in the Episcopal Church, but attended a Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn where she met her husband, Reverend William Sumell.

The couple moved into a house on Stark Avenue in East Meadow built by William and his father, where Anita resided until her death at 101 years old. She would have been 102 on June 7.

Anita’s daughter, Anita Madden, described her mother as very social. “She had a good sense of humor and she had a strong belief in prayer.” Anita Sumell was a reverend at the East Meadow Assembly Pentecostal Church and held prayer meetings and bible study in her home every week until she was 97 years old. She was also a devoted stay-at-home mother.

Anita was a loyal wife to William until his death in 1989 and a nurturing mother to Anita and Bill. She was survived by grandchildren Pamela Madden-Bell, Chris Madden, David Sumell, James Sumell and Scott Sumell, and great-grandchildren Cynthia Mansaram, Lukas Madden, Katlyn Sumell, Sharon Sumell, Timothy Sumell, Peter Sumell, Kristen Sumell, Kayla Sumell, Karissa Sumell and Damien Bell.

Anita was buried with her husband at Pine Lawn Memorial Park and Garden Mausoleums in Farmingdale. Donations to the Salvation Army in memory of Anita Sumell would be greatly appreciated by her family.