Obituary of Susan D. McAlear

Susan Therese McAlear (nee Duffy. Age 76, of Leonia, NJ and Orleans (Cape Cod), Mass passed on February 5, 2021.

Susan was preceded by her loving husband and best friend, John (Jack) W. McAlear.  She is survived by her beloved sons, Matthew J. McAlear, and his wife Meghan, Brian M. McAlear and his wife, Danielle, and her loving stepdaughter, Kim Ann Hargis and her husband Arthur.  She is the cherished grandmother of Meghann Lea Hargis, Abby Marie Horl McAlear, Christian James McAlear, Connor John Horl McAlear, Lucy Therese McAlear and Joseph Skaket McAlear.

She is also survived by a sister, Kathleen M. Duffy, Lawrence and niece, Aimee Kathleen Lawrence Helminiak.

In addition, her love and support extended to many cousins, nieces, nephews and treasured friends.

Susan was raised in Palisades Park where her grandfather, John Duffy, along with five other bricklayers and several laborers from town volunteered to build St. Michaels Roman Catholic Church.

Prior to her retirement, Susan was an Officer for Administration for Columbia University in the Department of Dermatology and worked in the Dermatology Department at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital for 15+ years.  Susan also served as the Manager of Operations in the Clinical Trials Unit at New York Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University.  Most recently, Susan served as Assistant to Chief of Staff at the Urban Health Plan.

Susan was an active member of St. John the Evangelist Parish and served in many leadership roles at the Parish.  She also volunteered as an ESL (English as a second language) teacher for the Asian Ministries of Leonia.

An avid art and music lover, one of her favorite places to spend the day was at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  She also loved photography, reading, religious studies and spending summers with her familiy on Cape Cod.  Susan believed that, after God, music was the greatest source of comfort and healing.  She loved to laugh and cry with her family, travel and the rain!

All are asked to assemble at Saint John's the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church of Leonia on Tuesday at 10 AM to celebrate her funeral mass.  For information call (201)944-0100 or www.frankpatti.com