Susan K. (Keough) Donnelly

Susan K. Donnelly of Boston, age 76, former teacher, model, actor, and activist, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 4, after a long illness, with her loved ones by her side.

Born in Boston, Susan—third in a family of five children—learned early on to assert her position. As a toddler, this was often found outside all the fences and gates that her father, Alby, unsuccessfully erected to contain her in their Quincy backyard. The Keough family then moved to Stoughton, where Susan and her siblings enjoyed an idyllic childhood, exploring the pine groves and farmlands of what was then a natural haven.

After a move to Roslindale, Susan attended Saint Thomas Aquinas High School in Jamaica Plain, where she forged good friendships that she would nurture for a lifetime—something she continued to do in all her ventures. Following matriculation at Bridgewater State College, she went on to teach at the elementary level (primarily first grade) in Boston Public Schools, including in Jamaica Plain and at the Bradley School in East Boston.  

Throughout her life, Susan enjoyed traveling—her honeymoon in 1973 with late husband Richard Donnelly involved driving across the United States on a shoestring. In the mid-’80s, she and Richard would spend a summer traveling through Europe, and in later years, Susan planned overseas trips whenever possible, most recently to Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal.

Those who knew Susan knew she was a consummate shopper, outfitting herself and her entire family with her forays to Filene’s Basement and Frugal Fannie’s, as well as explorations of area thrift stores. Upon her retirement from teaching in the mid-2000s, her eye for fashion led naturally to ventures in modeling (one never knew when you might come across Susan’s warm smile and gorgeous white locks in an ad campaign for CVS, or a magazine spread in Good Housekeeping), as well as roles in bank commercials and stints on film and TV sets as a background actor.

In more recent years, Susan was highly engaged in political activism, supporting Democratic and civil liberties causes. She frequently attended rallies on her beloved Boston Common, most recently the "Hands Off!" march, despite her illness.

Susan leaves her partner, Jean-Pierre (JP) Sanchez; her sisters Barbara Daley and Teri Keough; and her brother Peter Keough and sister-in-law Alicia Potter. She is also survived by nephews Michael Daley, Ryan McDonough and wife Jill Provost, and Sean Daley and wife Erin; as well as nieces Kathleen Kearnan and husband Paul, and Rachael Innerarity; and several great-nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband, Richard Donnelly, her father, Albert Keough, her mother, Kathleen Keough, her sister Mary McDonough, and brothers-in-law Michael J. Daley, Jr., and Calvin Innerarity.

Visitation is on Monday, June 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Robert J. Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home, 1803 Centre St., West Roxbury. The funeral mass will take place on Tuesday, June 10, at 10 a.m., at Holy Name Church, 1689 Centre St., West Roxbury. Interment at Saint Joseph’s Cemetery, West Roxbury. In honor of Susan’s compassionate care, the family kindly asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Care Dimensions Hospice House in Lincoln, c/o Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan Street, B-102, Danvers MA 01923.