Susan D. Slahetka passed away on March 21, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 84 years old.

Born in Somerville, NJ to parents Garrett Emery and Anne (Galpin) Drake, Sue grew up in Bound Brook, NJ. She met her husband, Ron, at Bound Brook High School. Sue maintained life-long friendships with “the girls” from high school, who Zoomed regularly and took yearly trips together.

Sue and Ron married on July 4, 1963. They lived in Akron, OH and Pluckemin, NJ before moving to Rochester, NY, where they raised their two children. In 1999, Ron and Sue returned to New Jersey, residing in Mendham for the past 27 years. Ron and Sue also lived part-time in Vineyard Haven, MA.

Sue earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Hood College and a master’s degree in education from Nazareth College. Early in her career, Sue taught third grade. While living in Rochester, Sue was very active in her community and spent much of her time volunteering. These endeavors included fundraising for the local public broadcasting station (WXXI), leading her daughter’s Girl Scout troop, and organizing school book fairs. Sue also enjoyed the many years she worked at Power’s Farm Market, in Pittsford, NY.

Sue was a life-long athlete. As a teenager, she spent her summers working as a lifeguard. As an adult, she played tennis and picked up rowing as a hobby during the summer on Martha’s Vineyard. She frequented the gym and cherished her “exercise” friends, whom she met in aerobics classes nearly 20 years ago.

Sue was an avid reader throughout her life, with a special fondness for John Updike and John McPhee, although she denied having a favorite author. In her later years, Sue returned to the piano and thoroughly enjoyed playing. Sue dedicated much of her time to her four granddaughters, who called her Susie, a name that was thereafter adopted by all who loved her.

Susan is predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Ronald Slahetka, and is survived by her daughter Nancy Slahetka, son Jack Slahetka, brother Garrett (Ruth) Drake Jr., and granddaughters Maddie, Katie, Lucia, and Sadie.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 28, from 11 am to 12 pm, immediately followed by a service at the Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Road, Mendham. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to donate to National Public Radio, WNYC, or your favorite charity.