Susan Kelley

Gardner - Susan (Desautels) Kelley of South Gardner, formerly of Princeton and Orleans, Massachusetts, died early Sunday morning at Heywood Hospital in Gardner, surrounded by her loving family. She was the daughter of Ronald and Honora Rose (Steckel) Desautels.

Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, and raised in Oxford, Sue moved to Jefferson during high school and graduated from Wachusett Regional High School. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business from Anna Maria College in Paxton, graduating in 1976.

Sue briefly worked at Nissen’s Bakery with her father before transitioning to Thom McAn, where she held various IT positions. In 1996, she began working as a computer programmer for TJX Companies in Framingham. She retired in 2019 after a successful career as a mainframe computer programmer.

Sue enjoyed all kinds of puzzles, including crosswords, Wordle, Sudoku, and a round of Scrabble every afternoon. She lived for her children and grandchildren and cherished family get-togethers on Saturdays.

During retirement, Sue loved visiting the beaches of Cape Cod and Gloucester whenever possible. She was a communicant of St. Edward’s Parish in Westminster, Massachusetts.

She is survived by her loving husband of 41 years, Robert Kelley; her children, Sarah Suttner and her husband, Michael, of Barre, Massachusetts; Robert Kelley of Pepperell, Massachusetts; and Daniel Kelley and his partner, Venessa Lebel, of Worcester, Massachusetts. Her brother, Ronald Desautels and wife Mary Sue of Sumerville, South Carolina, will also miss her dearly. Sue also leaves behind her precious grandchildren, Evelyn, Finn, and Daniel, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to a visitation at Miles Funeral Home Sunday, September 27, 2026, from 1:00 – 4:00PM located at 1158 Main St. Holden MA 01520. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated the following morning beginning at 10:00AM at St. Edward the Confessor Church, 10 Church St. Westminster, MA, 01473. Interment will follow immediately after in Worcester County Memorial Park, 217 Richards Ave, Paxton, MA, 01612.