GUILDERLAND — Susan Diane Stealey, who loved travel, the outdoors, animals, and family, died peacefully at her Guilderland home on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family and pets, her family wrote in a tribute. She was 51.

She will always be known as everyone’s favorite aunt, her family wrote.

Mrs. Stealey was born on Sept. 19, 1965 in Niskayuna, daughter of Paul and Arlene Bangert Ableman. She was a lifelong resident of the area and graduated from Guilderland High School.

Mrs. Stealey worked for the United States Postal Service for 17 years in its payroll department and for The Animal Hospital as its receptionist, and retired from the Guilderland Central School District, where she worked in health benefits and payroll.

Mrs. Stealey loved to travel and be outdoors, her family wrote in a tribute, adding that her favorite vacation spot was Ocean City, New Jersey in the summer with family.

She had a love for animals, especially her collies, Lizzie and Sadie, and her cats, Kit and Kaboodle, her family wrote, adding, “Sue was a loving person inside and out; she will be sadly missed by all.”

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Susan Diane (née Ableman) Stealey is survived by her loving husband, Richard Stealey, whom she married on Sept. 2, 1988, a loving union of 29 years.

She is also survived by her parents, Paul and Arlene Bangert Ableman; her brothers, Paul “Bill” Ableman and his wife, Cindy; and Glenn Ableman, and his wife, Barbara; her sister, Sandie Sanderson and her husband, Tom; her brothers-in- law, Chuck Stealey and his wife, Theresa; Bob Stealey, and his wife, Sandy; Don Stealey and his wife, Debbie; and Bill Durand; and her sister-in- law, Donna Stealey. She is also survived by several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews, and cousins.

Her father- and mother-in- law, Ray and Alice Stealey, died before her, as did her brothers-in-law David Stealey and Jim Stealey; and her sister-in-law Patty Stealey Durand.

The family is grateful to the doctors and nurses at St. Peter’s Hospital, and also thanks Dr. Ani Negandhi and Beth and Melissa for the care and comfort they provided to Mrs. Stealey over the past two years.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, Sept. 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. at New Comer Cremations & Funerals, 343 New Karner Road, Colonie 12205. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 10 a.m. at the funeral home, with burial to follow at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Guilderland.

Mourners may leave condolences at NewComerAlbany.com.

Memorial donations may be made to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, 1111 Stewart Ave. Bethpage, New York 11714.