Susan Kathleen Hanley

We are sad to announce the death of our sister, Susan Kathleen Hanley, who passed away August 31, 2023. Devoted friend, sister and daughter, Susan’s powerful love and loyalty defy her death and remain to comfort us.

Susan was born February 14, 1974 in St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY. Our mother liked to say that she was the best Valentine’s Day present she could have hoped for. The date of her birth may have been ironic to those who knew her as the fiercely focused and determined individual she would become. At her core, however, Susan led a principled life based on her love of God, country and family.

Susan graduated from John Jay High School in Hopewell Jct., NY in June 1992. An enthusiastic student, she enjoyed her teachers, friends, and participating in Track and Field. She was introduced to Civil Air Patrol by a fellow runner, which positively altered the trajectory of her life. Sensing the opportunity to make a difference, Susan accepted a scholarship from the Navy to attend Marquette University.

Susan always spoke fondly of her time at Marquette, from 1992-1996. She majored in History and enjoyed activities such as Water Polo and Track while maintaining her duties in Navy ROTC. Susan often mentioned the wonderful friends and roommates she met during her college years.

Upon graduation in 1996, Susan reported to the USS Blue Ridge (LCC19) and quickly adjusted to her new life as an officer in the Navy. She often described her tours as adventurous and character building. She was proud of the officers and enlisted sailors she worked with in her roles as Deck Officer and Surface Warfare Officer, and enjoyed sight seeing in the many countries she visited in her limited free time. Susan remembered her deployment to the Adriatic Sea during the Kosovo Campaign as one of her most challenging during the Navy. Her subsequent lessons in leadership guided the rest of her life.

Susan entered CUNY Law School while continuing to serve in the Navy Reserves in 2002.She worked at several law firms upon graduation, gaining a variety of experiences in different fields of law. By the time she decided to leave her beloved Queens neighborhood to live closer to her family in North Carolina, she had amassed a wealth of knowledge that she used in her new roles in Raleigh.

Her sisters will remember her as a fierce go-getter with unyielding energy, a powerful force for justice and the absolute best person to talk to when the chips are down. Her mantras will stick with us: “One ship, one crew” and “Compare yourself to your own standards.” Will will miss her terribly.