Suzanne A. (Grover) Lehmann, of Sandy Hook, Conn., passed away peacefully on July 24, 2023, at her residence at The Linden in Brookfield, Conn. Sue was born on Staten Island, N.Y. on June 8, 1935, to Mildred L. (Steele) and Edmund T. Grover.

After graduating from Curtis High School in 1953, Sue traveled daily to Manhattan on the Staten Island Ferry to her job as a switchboard operator at Argo Cornstarch in the Empire State Building on the 79th floor — and she never went near the windows due to her fear of heights!

Eventually she met her husband, John E. Lehmann, on a blind date and the couple had three daughters and two sons while living on Staten Island before moving to North Brunswick, N.J. and having another daughter. Sue dedicated her life to raising her children by being active in PTA, Cub Scouts, chaperoning class trips, and even filling in as a coach for Little League.

In 1979, the Lehmanns moved to Newtown, Conn., where Sue became a member of St Rose of Lima Catholic Church, which soon became her second home. Over the next 30 years, Sue became an integral part of the parish and volunteered many hours sewing costumes for the church’s play productions, teaching religious ed, assisting with the youth group, and coordinating the hospitality aspects of church events, including making, washing and ironing hundreds of tablecloths.

In Newtown, Sue was a stay-at-home mom who quickly became the neighborhood children’s second mother. If any of the neighbor’s kids were sick at school, it was Sue who would pick them up and bring them home. She loved her neighbors on Concord Ridge Rd and would drink her tea every morning at her kitchen window so she could see who was driving up and down the street. Neighbors and friends knew that her door was always open for honest advice, laughs, gossip, and a cup of tea.

In 2008, Sue moved to her second home in Florida full-time to be close to some of her children and grandchildren. She would say that her favorite view on earth was looking out the back door of her townhouse on Isla del Sol, where she could watch dolphins jumping while the sun was setting. But after ten years, she missed Newtown and her youngest grandchildren too much, and she moved back to Conn.

With such a large family, Sue enjoyed planning and preparing family meals, especially around the holidays. She loved Christmas and found so much joy in creating a magical Christmas morning for her children and grandchildren. She had a quick wit and would never pass up an opportunity to make a joke — she loved to laugh with friends, family and strangers! Sue loved traveling, sewing, knitting, crocheting, eating out at restaurants, and she rarely missed an episode of General Hospital in 50 years. But most of all, she loved her children and her grandchildren.

Sue is predeceased by her ex-husband, John E. Lehmann, her daughter, Kim Adrienne Lehmann, her son Kurtis John Lehmann, and her granddaughter, Jessica Adrienne Rekos. She is survived by her son Craig Lehmann (Maureen) of Weeki Wachee, Fla., daughters Karyn Lehmann of Sandy Hook, Conn., Karla Lafferty (Jack) of Indian Rocks Beach, Fla., and Krista Rekos (Rich) of Sandy Hook, Conn.; grandchildren Kaitlin Lehmann, Samantha Lafferty, Connor Lehmann, Erin Lafferty, Kelly Lehmann, Travis Rekos, Shane Rekos, Austin Rekos, and Brooke Rekos; as well as her sisters MaryLou Voss of Navarre, Fla., and Diana O’Keefe of Brookfield, Conn; and several nieces and nephews.

A private funeral was held at St Rose of Lima in Newtown on July 28th and she was interred with her children Kim and Kurt at St Peter’s Cemetery on Staten Island, N.Y. Donations in her memory may be made to toysfortots.org

Funeral arrangements were in care of Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown.