Susan M Mcfadden

Amidst smiles and tears, hand-holding and hugs, and with her five children by her side, Susan M. McFadden, 82, died peacefully at Meadowbrook Healthcare on June 5, 2023. In that moment, despite a challenging illness, she showed the same poise, strength, dignity, selflessness, gratitude, and love that she was known for throughout her life.



Susan was born on January 26, 1941, in Plattsburgh, NY. She and her younger sister Virginia Mott spent their childhoods in Plattsburgh and Cobleskill NY, and from an early age, they were shown the value of family. Her parents, Francis “Bud” and Marion “Mame” Miller, created for them warm and fond memories lasting to this day.



Her father was an exemplary educator who inspired her to earn a teaching degree from SUNY Potsdam. She went on to teach second grade at Northside Elementary on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base. During these years, she met Tom McFadden, which began a loving friendship that would last for over 57 years. They married in June of 1965. Though Sue’s formal teaching career was brief, she instead undertook perhaps the greatest teaching role of all: motherhood. The far-reaching effects of her understanding, dedication, sympathy, love and caring continue to touch the lives of her five children and nine grandchildren.



Sue was a master chef on weekends, oftentimes inviting family and friends to our table. The rest of the week, she had the deftness and skill of a top short-order cook, and the door to our South Prospect home was always open to school and neighborhood friends. Sue was a chauffeur with a sterling “on-time” record, getting us to music lessons, recitals, appointments, sports practices and games. She was an artist: she painted, worked with ceramics, and macramed. She crafted her own greeting cards, something her grandchildren cherish. Always, in the turbulent waters of growing up, she recognized when one of us was struggling, and she took us aside and made us feel special, reassuring us that we were going to be okay.



Susan McFadden actively supported our schools. She volunteered with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Sue was a regular on election days working the polls. Sue valued friendship and those days when she stole away for a coveted Mom’s lunch. She valued baking bread. She valued having family for the holidays, and she valued passing that torch. She made sure her family had everything we needed. She was witty and smart. You couldn’t beat her at Jeopardy, and we regretted teaching her Wordle. She valued beyond words her best friend and husband, Tom. She was there for us, and she always will be.



Sue is survived by her children: Mark McFadden; Elizabeth (Steve) Dubay; Stephen McFadden; Dennis (Joanne) McFadden; and Katy (Jonathan) Mast. She is survived by her grandchildren: Jack, Thomas, and Mark Dubay; Ryan, Kelsey, Emily, and Connor McFadden; Megan and Caroline Mast. She is survived by her sister Virginia Mott, by her three sisters-in-law Jann (Robert) Shambo, Nancy Monette, and Kathleen Kasprzak, and by her many nieces and nephews. Sue was preceded in death by her husband Tom McFadden, her parents, her parents-in-law Jack and Mary McFadden, her brothers-in-law Lloyd Mott, Mitchell Monette, and Donald Kasprzak, and by her nephew Jeffrey Mott.



With the same dedication shown to our father, Tom, Meadowbrook Healthcare continues to maintain a praiseworthy standard . The people who cared for Mom–their professionalism, thoughtfulness, and empathy–mean a great deal to our family.



A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 1pm on Friday, July 7, 2023, at St. John’s Church in Plattsburgh. A gathering at Rustic Pines, 63 Kelly Rd, Plattsburgh, will follow. Burial will be at the convenience of the family at a later date.



In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to a charity of one’s choice in Sue’s name.



Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home.