SuChen "Susan" Chiang Kelley

SuChen “Susan” Chiang Kelley, passed away surrounded by her loving family on December 13, 2024 after a six year long and hard-fought battle against multiple myeloma. She was a devoted and beloved daughter, wife, mother, grandmother affectionately known as Ama, friend, and cherished member of her community.

Born in Zhushan, Taiwan, she was the daughter of the late Jin-Biao Jiang and Jian-Mei Wu. Her parents relocated to Taiwan from China during the Chinese Civil War and raised the family in a modest household. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. Kelley, II, her only son, Robert E. Kelley, III, her sister, Ming-Chu Chiang and her brother, Chang-Hsuing Chiang.

SuChen was a dedicated mother and grandmother that touched those she met with her humility, kind spirit, shyness, eternal patience, generosity beyond measure, selflessness, caring heart and sense of humor. She was no stranger to adverse events in her life. She was a very young widow in a new country with four young children, having just moved to the USA in 1976. Even in the darkest of times, she always managed to put a smile on her face as she not only endured, but persevered. She was a strong role model for her children and grandchildren as she truly was a pillar of strength. She was ever grateful for each passing sunrise and sunset she spent with her family.

Suchen was a master at the art of crochet and it brought her great joy to make beautiful blankets and doilies for her children, grandchildren and family friends. She was also an excellent cook delighting family and friends with delicious traditional Chinese and Taiwanese dishes. SuChen especially enjoyed teaching her grandchildren how to make dumplings which made for a fun afternoon family activity. SuChen was also a skilled seamstress as she altered and mended her own clothing to fit her petite frame. SuChen was happiest surrounded by family, most of all, she loved when all of her children and grandchildren came to visit. She left her family with many treasured memories and is forever in each of our hearts.

Left to cherish her memory are her sister, her three daughters and six grandchildren. She is survived by her sister, Su-Lan Chiang and her husband of Taipei, Taiwan, daughters, Margaret M. Fowler and her husband Clay of Brandon, Elizabeth Barrett of Lithia, and Roberta K. Bradford of Lithia. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Joshua Fowler of Riverview, Alexandra Fowler of Lithia, Erika Staggs and her husband Cameron of Spring Hill, TN, Bridget Barrett of Atlanta, GA, Jeremy Kelley of Tampa and Katherine Bradford of Lithia. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews in Taipei, Taiwan.

A celebration of SuChen’s life will be held on January 4, 2024, at Blount & Curry Life Event Center, 605 S. MacDill Avenue, Tampa, FL 33609. The gathering will begin at 2:00 PM, with a service to follow at 2:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities.