Susan Elston

Susan Elizabeth Elston was born on September 14, 1954, to Edward and Jennie Chambers. She grew up in Kenilworth, New Jersey and was the middle child of five, three brothers (Tom, Eddie and Michael) and her sister (Patricia).

On December 22, 2025, she passed away peacefully with her daughters and family members by her side. Susan fought a long battle with stage 4 lung cancer and defied all odds by surviving nine years beyond her cancer diagnosis, two strokes, and the other maladies she endured along the way. She met each obstacle with old-school toughness, which earned her the high school nickname “the Powerhouse,” and later described by her youngest grandson as, “Grandma was a tank!” Susan’s strength was matched by her fearless heart. She had a natural instinct, big voice and lack of fear to defend the underdog and speak up for what she believed was right both for herself and for others. She had the ability to face her challenges with a positive attitude- and always greeted friends and strangers with a smile. She carried herself with positivity and humor, often answering the question “How are you?” with her signature response: “I am good! How are you?”—even in the hardest moments.

Her bravery, optimism, and refusal to surrender to hardship shaped a life defined not by illness, but by meaning. Though her path was marked by profound challenges, Susan was gifted a second chapter at life and one she embraced with greater joy, acceptance, and gratitude. Her life stands as a testament that a rainbow will shine after every storm, and her legacy will guide those who loved her, through difficult times.

She had a mischievous sense of humor, generally accented by her trademark smile and sly wink. With her cheerful voice and booming laugh, it was impossible not to know when Susan was in the room. Her unconditional love for her family radiated like sunshine- warm, steady, and impossible to miss- matching her favorite color yellow. She loved her children and grandchildren, making it a point to be present for life’s most meaningful moments, and in the delivery room to welcome and comfort every new member of the family. She enjoyed being a fierce bowler, lover of a good mystery novel and terrible singer to 1970’s music- but nothing quite compared to winning it all playing bingo. Her excitement sometimes couldn’t be contained, and was known to enthusiastically call out a winning card even when she didn’t quite have one.

Susan spent the majority of her life living along the east coast, from New Jersey to Florida, then headed to the wilderness in Alaska, joining her oldest daughter and followed by her youngest one, before spending the past five years in Minnesota. She is survived by her daughters, Denise Kaelke (Mark) and Victoria Elston (Tommy Combs); her son, Stephen Elston, and five cherished grandchildren, Kaitelyn McDonald, Joshua Elston, Kinsey Pearson, Braedon Pearson, and Aiden Elston; her sister Patricia Chambers and brother Tom Chambers.

Her family takes comfort knowing she has been reunited with her dog Precious, her driver’s license, and brother, Edward Chambers. She will be missed tremendously by those who knew her, loved her, and were fortunate to hear her laugh. Her memory and love will remain always in their hearts.

Life is but a stopping place, a pause in what’s to be, a resting place along the road to sweet eternity.

We all have different journeys, different paths along the way, we all were meant to learn something but never meant to stay.

Our destination is a place far greater than we know.

For some the journey’s quicker, for some the journey is slow. 

And when the journey finally ends, We’ll claim a great reward 

and find an everlasting peace together with the Lord.

                                                           - Andrea Jackson, Celebrant