Susan Mary Flatley, 85, of Vero Beach, Florida, passed away on October 15, 2026. Sue was born in Brooklyn and raised in Garden City, Long Island. Central to Sue’s upbringing was the Catholic Community she was so proud to be a part of across her lifetime. Sue strove to live her faith daily and took great comfort in being part of her local parishes, donating her time to various committees while being a regular attendee at services each week. She drew great strength and direction from her faith in both good times and challenging ones.

Attending college at the University of Rhode Island, Sue pursued her calling to be an elementary school educator. Establishing life-long friendships with some of her students, for the positive effect she had on their lives at such a young age, teaching brought a strong sense of purpose and great meaning to Sue’s life.

Outside of work, Sue dedicated time to volunteering to support many organizations and rose to be President of the New York State Outdoor Education Association. In that role she hosted conferences to discuss the importance of enjoying nature and conserving its resources. Fond of Labrador Retrievers, Sue had four special four-legged loves in her life…Murphy, Henley, Ebony, and Taffy, each of whom she doted on and provided a loving home to.

Passionate about travel, Sue traveled the world in an era when travel was not the norm. Reaching all four corners of the globe, Sue loved to experience other cultures and meet their peoples. Sue once received a marriage proposal from an Irishman the night she met him in a Dublin pub! Wherever Sue was, the gathering was even more fun due to her presence. Sue found a special place in her heart for Mexico and South America, which she visited many times with her closest and most-dear life-long friend, Adele Landesberg.

Retiring to Florida after concluding her career as and educator, Sue continued to pursue travel as well as her love for card games, especially bridge, for which she was always a sought-after partner. Sue was the consummate host, an incredible chef and baker, and took great joy in providing food prepared with love for a table full of family or friends to enjoy. While dining or socializing together, Sue always enjoyed a good joke as much as she enjoyed telling one.

Sue was predeceased by her father and mother, Thomas & Mary (Tapke) Flatley, her brother and sister-in-law, Tom & Helen Flatley, dear friends Adele Landesberg and Victor Gerstenblatt, and so many other close friends she had to say goodbye to first but is now reunited with eternally. Sue is survived by her nephew and his wife, Michael & Emily Flatley, their children…Sean, Kailey and Riley, who she loved like they were her grandchildren, two nieces, and many close friends in the Vero Beach community, several of whom provided wonderfully compassionate love and care to Sue during her final days.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 11:00 AM. Interment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery in New York at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home in Vero Beach, Florida.