Susan “Sue” Popolillo

**October 23, 1951 – July 27, 2026 **

Susan “Sue” Popolillo, born October 23, 1951, in Zephyrhills FL, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love and memories of the many people whose lives she touched.

Susan was the beloved daughter of John and Miriam Kunze and a cherished sister to David, Lee, and Ann Kunze. She was a devoted wife to Ronald Popolillo, with whom she shared 45 beautiful years of marriage. Their life together was filled with love, laughter, adventure, and countless memories. They especially enjoyed cruising throughout the Caribbean, exploring new islands and experiencing life side by side. Their love for one another was a constant throughout their 45 years together.

Susan was a proud and passionate educator who dedicated her career to teaching English at the high school level. A graduate of Kean University in New Jersey, she shared her knowledge and patience with generations of students. Teaching was more than a career to Susan—it was one of the many ways she made a difference in the lives of others.

Long before retirement, Susan was deeply involved in the world around her. She was politically active during the late 1960s and 1970s and proudly served as an alternate delegate from New Jersey to the Democratic National Convention in Miami in 1972. She was never afraid to stand up for what she believed in, speak her mind, or advocate for what she felt was right.

Family was at the heart of Susan’s life. She was a loving grandmother and great-grandmother to 20 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, each of whom held a special place in her heart. She loved spending time with them, especially during the holidays. Christmas was her favorite, and some of her most treasured memories were made baking cookies with her grandchildren and creating traditions they will carry with them for years to come.

During retirement, Susan embraced her love of travel and adventure. She spent much of her retirement cruising, exploring islands throughout the Caribbean, swimming, and, above all, reading. She had a curious mind and a love of knowledge that never left her.

Susan will be remembered for her strength, determination, courage, intelligence, and unwavering desire to help others. She was patient when teaching, generous with her knowledge, and fiercely loving toward her family and friends. She was never one to hold back her thoughts and was known for speaking her mind with absolutely no filter. Yet her words came from a genuine desire to make a difference, never from a place of judgment. She believed in people, stood up for what mattered to her, and remained true to herself.

To know Susan was to know a woman who lived with conviction, loved deeply, and left an impression wherever she went.

She will be deeply missed by her husband, family, friends, former students, and all those fortunate enough to have known her. Though her absence leaves an unimaginable emptiness, her family finds comfort in knowing that she is no longer in pain and is at peace.

Susan’s life, her love, her strength, and her unforgettable spirit will live on through the people she loved and the countless lives she touched.

Her memory will always remain strong, and she will never be forgotten.