Susan E. (Herendeen) Daley of Marshfield passed away on July 8, 2023 at the age of 66. Daughter of the late Robert T. and Elaine (Moynihan) Herendeen, she was the beloved wife of Charles K. Daley of Marshfield; loving mother of Erin Daley and her husband Douglas Wooden of Wellesley and Meaghan Daley of Canton; cherished grandmother of Thomas and Henry Wooden; dear sister of Lynda Lavangie and her husband Mark of Whitman, Laura Twomey and her late husband Jack of Mashpee, and the late Robert Herendeen; and aunt to several nieces and nephews.

Susan, known to her friends and family as "Sue", enjoyed an administrative career at New England Life before settling down to raise her family in Marshfield. As a mother, Sue possessed the rare ability to encourage and support her children in their passions and ambitions without attempting to steer them in any particular direction—a mark of her unconditional love and faith. She emphasized the pursuit of joy over external achievement, and to that end filled her days as a young mother with simple pleasures—visits to the local library to select a fresh batch of books every week (including the latest Stephen King for mom), the local parks to feed ducks (and the occasional overzealous goose), and Green Harbor beach for long, lazy days of sandcastle building and hermit crab racing. She marked each holiday with enthusiasm and ritual—Christmas Eve Mass and a drive to see the twinkly lights, Valentine's paper hearts and Easter baskets (including those cleverly disguised as "care packages" and shipped to her college-aged children), Fourth of July sparklers and a champagne toast on New Year's Eve. As a lifelong fan of mystery, horror and science fiction, Halloween was its own season. Every year was a gift.

Though often reserved in public, she possessed a quick wit and deployed it regularly around friends and family. She was a voracious consumer of local news and culture, and also enjoyed traveling further afield. In her later years, she made annual trips to Florida and Maine with her husband Charlie and found they could make themselves at home anywhere so long as they had a local church, a cribbage board and a cocktail at sunset.

Despite a number of health-related obstacles over the years, Sue maintained a passion for living. She deeply loved her young grandsons, Thomas and Henry, and spent her final hours enjoying their vivid imaginations and exuberant play. She will be sorely missed, but her family hopes she finds the next chapter to be both an adventure and a homecoming. We love you, and we'll see you next time.

Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the MacDonald Funeral Home, 1755 Ocean Street in Marshfield. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Ann by the Sea Parish Church, 591 Ocean Street in Marshfield.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Susan's memory can be made to the Marshfield Food Pantry, by mail to P.O. Box 1097, Marshfield MA 02050.

For online guest book, driving directions and other helpful information please visit the website macdonaldfuneralhome.com