Susan R. Bader

On May 16, 2025, Susan Robin Bader - loving and devoted mother, wife, and friend - passed away peacefully in Boston, MA at the age of 63. Throughout her heroic 30 year battle with cancer, she always maintained a positive outlook and never complained. In the weeks prior to her passing, Sue was comforted by an outpouring of love and support from her family and many friends who visited, called, and sent messages. Not surprisingly, "Party at Sue's" became the theme in her room. She was deeply grateful.
Sue was born on January 5, 1962, in Springfield, MA to Marsha and Michael Bader. Not long after, the family moved to Longmeadow, MA where Sue spent her childhood. From a young age, Sue had a remarkable ability to bring people together-a gift she carried throughout her life, serving as the connective thread for a wide and devoted circle of lifelong friends.
Sue graduated from Longmeadow High School in 1980 and continued her education at Babson College in Wellesley, earning a bachelor's degree in marketing in 1984. She worked in the life insurance industry for 32 years, where she was a life manager and director of insurance benefits.
In 1997, Sue gave birth to her son, Matthew Jones. Throughout Matt's life, Sue was a constant source of love, strength, and unwavering support. She spent countless hours cheering him on from the sidelines of the baseball field. Beyond the game, she served as a steady guide, offering wisdom, and encouragement through every stage of life's journey.
Sue's happy place was by the water, and she tried to spend as much time as possible at the beach. In her later years, she discovered a hidden artistic talent, crafting beautiful beaded jewelry and unique artwork from pebbles and shells she collected on the beach, which she referred to as her "pebble people". Sue was also a passionate advocate for others facing cancer diagnoses. Drawing on her own experience, she participated in several cancer survivorship forums, offering support, encouragement, and insight to those navigating similar journeys. Most notably, she shared her patient perspective at the 2023 Developing a Multidisciplinary and Multispecialty Workforce for Patients with Cancer, from Diagnosis to Survivorship: A Workshop.
Sue will be remembered for her devotion to her son Matt, her love for her husband Ted, her endless generosity, her easy laugh, and her sarcastic wit (which they say is a sign of intelligence, no doubt in Sue's case).
Sue is survived by her son, Matthew Jones; her husband, Ted Ziemba; her father, Michael Bader and his wife Karen; her sister, Lynn (Bader) Hurley; her brother, David Bader and his wife Lisa; and her beloved nieces and nephews-Meghan, Griffin, Colin, Alyssa, and Justin.
She was predeceased by her mother, Marsha (Miller) Bader, and by Matt's father, Kevin Jones.
A Celebration of Sue's Life will be held at 11AM on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Forastiere Smith Funeral & Cremation, 220 N. Main St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028 with interment following in Hillcrest Park Cemetery, Springfield, MA.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Sue's name to Hodgkins International, 47N William St., Vineyard Haven, MA 02568; Dana Farber Survivorship Clinic, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215; or Survivor Journeys, PO Box 60471, Longmeadow, MA 01106.