Susan Dudley (Leanillo) Maesen 81, of Dade City, Florida passed away Saturday, January 13, 2024 surrounded by her loving family and under the care of Gulfside Hospice.

Susan was born March 14, 1942 to Lee Jasper (Jack) Dudley and Carolyn Sistrunk Dudley who grew up only two blocks away from each other. After Jack and Carolyn became teachers, during summer breaks they traveled to almost every state in the United States with their children Susan, Lee, Donna and Carol. Later, Jack and Carolyn decided to purchase property in the mountains of North Carolina where Susan and her siblings would spend much of their free time.

As a child, Susan spent time at the Grey Moss Inn on Church Street in Dade City, FL which was owned by her grandparents Marion and Susan Dudley.

Susan was also the granddaughter to the pioneering couple, Dr. R. D. Sistrunk and Francis Bedgood Sistrunk, who were large supporters of the First Baptist Church.

Susan attended public schools in Dade City, FL and received her degree from Appalachian State Teachers College in Boone, NC. After college, she became a 5th grade teacher and was contracted by the Army to teach children in Kaiserslautern, Germany for several years. She then returned to Dade City to continue her career as a 4th/5th grade teacher at Pasco Elementary School until her retirement.

Susan was kind, loving and a loyal friend to all who knew her. She was a member of St. Marys Episcopal Church, a Master Gardener, volunteer at the Pioneer Museum and delved into ancestry for her family and others.

She is survived by her husband, Peterus (Pete) Maesen as well as Ricardo (Rick) Leanillo the father of her children, Ricarda (Rikki) Conely (husband Tommy), and Antonio (Tony) Leanillo (wife Samantha) and his children Palmer and Elliot, along with sister Donna Messenger (husband Derek), niece Christiana Swanson Morgan (husband Kyle) and cousin Ann Sistrunk Prator.

Susan was predeceased by brother, Marion Lee Dudley and sister Carol Swanson (husband Maynard).

No memorial gathering is scheduled at this time.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Pioneer Museum, Dade City, FL.