SUZANNE RICHER

Suzanne Agnes Kelley Richer, “Sue”, was born February 2, 1947 in Ballston Spa, the middle child of three sisters. She graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1969. She then began her twenty-eight year career in the Skaneateles School District, the majority of which was spent teaching sixth grade. She met her future husband, Ron, at college and together they have raised two children, Michael and Kathleen.

Sue had the unique ability to make those around her feel important. She always listened to the concerns of others, and was sought out by many for advice, or just a sympathetic ear. It was a role she assumed in all areas of her life, whether it was as a wife, mother, sister, teacher or friend.

In July of 1999, Sue’s husband had just retired from teaching. Her son was pursuing his Master’s degree in education and her daughter had just become engaged. Life was good, until later that year. After having her annual mammogram, a lump was discovered and a biopsy revealed a malignant lump. Sue was fifty-two. She and her husband were devastated. There were so many decisions to be made, as well as the awful task of telling those closest to her that she had breast cancer. This is what defined Sue: She always did what needed to be done. She did everything that was recommended: she had a mastectomy, infusions of chemotherapy, and an array of medications. She never complained once.

During this time Sue took a leave of absence from teaching sixth grade and concentrated on getting well. She was a proud, yet humble, woman. Whenever people talked to her the conversation was always about them, never about her cancer.

The doctors were optimistic that the surgery and the chemo would be successful. Following treatment, the initial tests and scans were negative. She was healthy. In July of 2000, Sue was dancing at her daughter’s wedding with her new curly hair. In 2003 she welcomed her first granddaughter, and the wedding of her son. The best case scenario for Sue seemed to have taken place.

In January, 2004 six months before her long-awaited five-year milestone, an examination revealed that the cancer had reoccurred. During this time Sue held her head up high and, once again, persevered through chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Through it all, she remained upbeat and cheerful, protecting those closest to her, in spite of the pain she endured daily. Putting others first is simply what Sue did best. And in her most cherished role as a grandmother, she never allowed her three little grandchildren to know that she was not well. Soon, scans would show that the cancer had spread. On June 6, 2006 her oncologists told Sue and her husband that nothing could be done. She declined quickly, passing away twelve days later, on June 18, at home and surrounded by her family.

During her time as a survivor, Sue naturally assumed a role of helping others: those who had also been stricken with breast cancer. It gave her a sense of purpose to be able to provide insight about their life-changing situation. When her breast cancer returned, she no longer felt it appropriate to offer hope, as she had done in the past. Instead, she began to make sure women of all ages understood the importance of having routine mammograms. Although Sue had mammograms, they were not always done at recommended intervals. At the time of her diagnosis, she was late for her scheduled mammogram, and being the teacher that she was, was not afraid to user her story as a way of encouraging others to be vigilant with their own breast health. Sue’s message resonated close to home as her younger sister was diagnosed with breast cancer in its earliest stages, in 2005. Sue’s sister in now cancer free and credits her recovery, to early detection and on-time mammograms, a priority instilled by Sue. She is greatly missed by her family and friends, and would be humbled and honored to know that her memory is helping in the fight to overcome breast cancer.