Susan Elizabeth Gilchrist, 78, of Orleans, MA passed away peacefully on October 13, 2025. She was born in Newark, NJ on November 20th, 1946 to Hilda and Andrew Gilchrist, Jr.
The eldest of three children, she grew up in Bloomfield, NJ and graduated at the top of her class from Bloomfield High School in 1964. She went on to obtain her bachelor's degree in English Literature from Rutgers University.
She married Ernest Ciccone in 1969 and together they welcomed a daughter, Robyn in 1975.
Susan moved to Cape Cod with her daughter in 1978 and began working at Cape Cod Hospital as a case manager-a job she would stay at for 30 years until her retirement in 2008.
Susan was highly intelligent and enjoyed winning every game of Trivial Pursuit that she ever played. She was a voracious reader and had an affinity for reading anything and everything about the British Royalty.
Susan had many hobbies and was excellent at everything she tried her hand at. Besides reading, she enjoyed knitting, cooking and gardening. She loved listening to the music of Andrea Bocelli, The Three Tenors and Prince. She was a passionate Tom Brady fan and always referred to him as "My Tom". Susan was known for her love of routines and always had a timer going off in the house to ensure that everything was proceeding as it should.
Susan had several close friends and enjoyed getting together for lunch with them. She especially enjoyed her trips to Boston with her good friend, Lucille. She was also close with her brother Andrew and sister-in-law, Paulette. She would spend several weeks staying with them each year. She also shared a special relationship with her nephew and Godson, Andrew and loved to watch the daily videos he would send of his daughter, Edith Marie. Most of all, she enjoyed attending Sunday cookouts at her daughter's house where she could root on her beloved Tom Brady.
Susan was known for her soft-spoken nature, but exuded a quiet strength. She had a dry sense of humor and infectious laugh. She was always kind, generous and patient and never had an unkind word for anyone. A devout Catholic, Susan was a long-time parishioner of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. She donated to many charitable organizations.
Susan is survived by her daughter, Robyn Ciccone and son-in-law, David McKee of Brewster, MA, her brother Andrew Gilchrist III and his wife, Paulette of Park Ridge, NJ, her sister Carol Sztojka of Maplewood, NJ, nieces, Andria Sztojka and Elizabeth Gilchrist and nephews, Thomas Sztojka, Jr. and Andrew Gilchrist IV, all of NJ as well as several grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Although Susan's physical presence may no longer grace our lives, her spirit will continue to inspire and uplift us. May her memory be a blessing, and may we carry forth her legacy of love and compassion in all that we do. Her light will forever shine brightly in our hearts.
A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, December 6th at 11:00 am at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Orleans, MA with burial at a later date. Donations may be made to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at https://www.bidmc.org/giving.
The eldest of three children, she grew up in Bloomfield, NJ and graduated at the top of her class from Bloomfield High School in 1964. She went on to obtain her bachelor's degree in English Literature from Rutgers University.
She married Ernest Ciccone in 1969 and together they welcomed a daughter, Robyn in 1975.
Susan moved to Cape Cod with her daughter in 1978 and began working at Cape Cod Hospital as a case manager-a job she would stay at for 30 years until her retirement in 2008.
Susan was highly intelligent and enjoyed winning every game of Trivial Pursuit that she ever played. She was a voracious reader and had an affinity for reading anything and everything about the British Royalty.
Susan had many hobbies and was excellent at everything she tried her hand at. Besides reading, she enjoyed knitting, cooking and gardening. She loved listening to the music of Andrea Bocelli, The Three Tenors and Prince. She was a passionate Tom Brady fan and always referred to him as "My Tom". Susan was known for her love of routines and always had a timer going off in the house to ensure that everything was proceeding as it should.
Susan had several close friends and enjoyed getting together for lunch with them. She especially enjoyed her trips to Boston with her good friend, Lucille. She was also close with her brother Andrew and sister-in-law, Paulette. She would spend several weeks staying with them each year. She also shared a special relationship with her nephew and Godson, Andrew and loved to watch the daily videos he would send of his daughter, Edith Marie. Most of all, she enjoyed attending Sunday cookouts at her daughter's house where she could root on her beloved Tom Brady.
Susan was known for her soft-spoken nature, but exuded a quiet strength. She had a dry sense of humor and infectious laugh. She was always kind, generous and patient and never had an unkind word for anyone. A devout Catholic, Susan was a long-time parishioner of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. She donated to many charitable organizations.
Susan is survived by her daughter, Robyn Ciccone and son-in-law, David McKee of Brewster, MA, her brother Andrew Gilchrist III and his wife, Paulette of Park Ridge, NJ, her sister Carol Sztojka of Maplewood, NJ, nieces, Andria Sztojka and Elizabeth Gilchrist and nephews, Thomas Sztojka, Jr. and Andrew Gilchrist IV, all of NJ as well as several grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Although Susan's physical presence may no longer grace our lives, her spirit will continue to inspire and uplift us. May her memory be a blessing, and may we carry forth her legacy of love and compassion in all that we do. Her light will forever shine brightly in our hearts.
A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, December 6th at 11:00 am at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Orleans, MA with burial at a later date. Donations may be made to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at https://www.bidmc.org/giving.
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