Susan Helen Dickinson LeLacheur

SUSAN HELEN DICKINSON LeLACHEUR, 75, of Keysville, Virginia, passed away peacefully at University of Virginia Medical Center on August 20, 2026 from complications following a routine procedure. Susan is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Ann LeLacheur Jones, of Charlotte Court House, VA; her son, Scott Stephen LeLacheur (Suzzy) of Lorton, VA; four grandchildren, Thomas Benjamin Jones (17), Samuel Henry Jones (14), Joshua Forrest Maradiaga (30) (Jaynee); and Gabrielle Isabel Maradiaga Melendez (27) (Bryan); and three great-grandchildren, Sawyer Elizabeth Maradiaga (9), Valentina Isabel Melendez (5), and Santiago Noel Melendez (3). She is also survived by her oldest brother, Robert F. Dickinson, of Stoneham, Massachusetts; and her cousin, Corinne Mannetta, of Swampscott, Massachusetts. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Henry Dickinson and Helen Veronica Czerniawski Dickinson; her mother-in-law, Loretta Landry LeLacheur; her sister, Nancy Louise Dickinson; her brother, David Edward Dickinson; her son-in-law, Thomas Michael Jones; and the love of her life and husband of 45 years, Stephen Phillip LeLacheur.

Susan was born on May 25, 1951, to Robert and Helen Dickinson in Beverly, Massachusetts. She was their third child and first daughter. As a family, Susan went camping in Maine, played games at the arcade at the Salem Willows, and visited the Dickinson family farm in Connecticut. Susan attended Ste. Chretienne Academy and where she met her bestie, Marianne Rantz. In 1969, she graduated and attended Salem State University, where she studied biology. In 1970, Susan found herself working in Danvers, Massachusetts, and ended up catching a ride home with a co-worker where, fortuitously, she met a young man serving the United States Army, Stephen Phillip LeLacheur. Thirteen became their number since their birthdays were thirteen months apart and they married thirteen months after meeting, on June 13, 1971.

The next year, Susan and Stephen moved to Fort Mammoth, New Jersey, and welcomed their daughter, Jennifer Ann. The following year, they moved to Fort Hood, Texas, and in 1974, their son, Scott Stephen, was born. As an Army wife and mother, Susan mastered packing and moving every three years from Texas to Nuremburg, Germany, to Fort Ritchie, Maryland, to Heidelberg, Germany, to Alexandria, Virginia. She found employment opportunities in retail and upon moving to Virginia, spent many years at Kmart where she retired as office manager. But her most rewarding role was that of loving Nana to her grandchildren.

After the birth of their first grandchild, Susan and Stephen moved to Keysville, Virginia, where Susan helped care for her grandson. In her spare time, Susan enjoyed digital photography and regularly printed photographs to put in her Nana Brag Book. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and celebrating their milestones.

Susan was an avid collector throughout her life – music records, crystal and Hummel figurines, snowman and flip flops, cardinals and gnomes. She loved Christmas, keeping her trees and décor up throughout the year because it made her happy. She was an animal lover, though perhaps not squirrels, who she had to remind to stop eating the bird food with the occasional toot of her air horn. She loved watching game shows and HGTV, and playing word games and Gummy Drop. She had a wicked sense of humor and a quick smile. She was a good friend to all and will be sorely missed.

A memorial service will be held at Browning-Duffer Funeral Home on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., with the family receiving friends at 189 Hyland Oaks Lane, Keysville, Virginia, after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Charlotte County Rescue Squad. The Browning-Duffer Funeral Home in Keysville, VA, is serving the family.