Susan Chapman Melanson, age 79, of Tewksbury, passed away peacefully on April 12, 2026, surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous and graceful battle with metastatic breast cancer.
Sue Andrews Chapman was born in Boston on May 6, 1946, the eldest daughter of Arthur Wood “Woody” Chapman, Jr. and Marion (Saunders) Chapman. She spent her early childhood in Ohio before her family settled in Wellesley Hills in 1952. There, she developed a love for music, playing the French horn in band and orchestra, and was deeply involved in the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church as a student, teacher, and youth leader.
Her passion for writing emerged early, earning the New England Teachers of English Poetry Award in 1964. She attended Colby Junior College (now Colby-Sawyer College) and later earned her bachelor’s degree from Hiram College in 1970. During her college years, she worked at several resorts across New England, experiences that contributed to the many stories she would later share.
Sue began her career at Harvard’s Widener Library. She went on to work in a variety of roles across multiple industries, living in Boston, Portsmouth, New York City, and Fort Lauderdale. She often joked that her career path was unconventional, but it reflected her adventurous spirit and curiosity.
In 1979, Sue married Richard Horn, and they lived in Reading, Massachusetts, where they raised their daughter, Kristen. Sue was active in the community, working at Birch Meadow Elementary School, serving as a Camp Fire leader, participating in the First Congregational Church, and contributing to Reading’s 350th Anniversary Celebration. She later co-founded and served as CEO of Gem Island Software, earning recognition in Who’s Who in America.
In 1995, she married her childhood friend, Captain Arthur S. Melanson, and together they built a life in South Hiram, Maine. There, they raised 26 Siberian and Alaskan huskies and founded High Acres Maple Syrup, creating a working sugar house on their mountain property and participating annually in Maine Maple Sunday.
Sue was an accomplished writer and artist, expressing herself through storytelling and painting. Her published works included Wentworth-by-the-Sea, 1969, Confessions of the Classmate Who Never Was, High Acres Maple Syrup Cookbook, and Radiation Buddies, which chronicled her journey with breast cancer.
Known as a “collector of people,” Sue had a remarkable memory and a gift for making meaningful connections. She left a lasting impression on everyone she met through her warmth, kindness, and genuine interest in others.
Sue is survived by her daughter, Kristen Horn Guerrieo, and son-in-law Chris Guerrieo of Billerica, Massachusetts; her grandsons, Ryan, Matthew, and Nicholas Guerrieo; her step-son, James Melanson, and his wife, Sarah, of Liberty, Maine; and her granddaughter, Margot Melanson; her sister, Joan Moore, and brother-in-law Charles Moore of Needham, Massachusetts; her brother, Douglas Chapman, and sister-in-law Terri Chapman of Mont Vernon, New Hampshire; and her nephews, Daniel Chapman and James Chapman. She was predeceased by her husband, Captain Arthur S. Melanson.
Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, April 25, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, with a memorial service immediately following at 4:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sue’s memory to the Ellie Fund.
Previous Events
Visitation
25
Apr
66 Concord Road
Billerica, MA 01821
Service
25
Apr
66 Concord Road
Billerica, MA 01821
