Susan L. Hughes, 73, of Schenectady, passed away peacefully at home on Aug. 21, 2024. Susan, the daughter of Charles and Leona (Edwards) LaFever, was born in Delhi July 22, 1951. She attended the one-room school in Bovina Center and graduated from Delaware Academy and Central School in 1969. In 1974, Susan graduated with her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from SUNY Oneonta. While pursuing her bachelor’s degree, she met the love of her life, Gary.
Gary and Susan married in Bovina on Sept. 1, 1973. They lived in Oneonta, the Hudson Valley and the Watertown areas, before settling down in Schenectady, where they raised their two sons, Patrick and Adam. Susan always had a passion for managing/working retail, and until its closure in the mid 1990s, she was assistant manager of the Next-To-New Shop operated by the Junior League of Schenectady. Susan found her true calling as a child caregiver and started an in-home daycare after becoming a mother. Susan was also a talented artist, creating beautiful works of art using watercolor and pen and ink. She took great pride in making the family’s annual holiday card with her artistic skills. Despite battling rheumatoid arthritis for many years, Susan faced it with courage and humor, never letting it limit her life. She brought joy to every room and cherished spending time with her family, including her grandchildren.
Susan is survived by her husband Gary, and her sons Patrick (Caitlyn) of Glenville and Adam of Schenectady. She is also survived by her five grandchildren: Essence (12), Jon (8), Aiden (4), Parker (3), and Hayden (7 months), as well as her sister Diane Lafever of Kingston, and her brother Ray LaFever of Bovina. Additionally, she is survived by her Uncle George (Valerie) LaFever of Delhi, several cousins, and her cousin-in-law Rosemary Miller.
Calling hours were held at Daly’s Funeral Home Monday, Aug. 26. A mass of Christian burial was held at St. Luke’s Church Tuesday, Aug. 27. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Bovina Historical Society at PO Box119, Bovina Center, NY 13740, a society close to Susan’s heart.
