Susan A. Machacek, 66, of Pinellas Park, Florida, passed away on September 9, 2026, after battling a terminal illness.
Sue was raised in Fairview Park, Ohio, and later lived in Brook Park, Ohio, before eventually making Florida her home.
Sue spent more than two decades working in administrative roles at MetroHealth Medical Center, where she worked throughout various departments of the health system. Later, she ran multiple clinics at Johns Hopkins Hospital before retiring. She was capable, hardworking, and strong—qualities she carried with her throughout her life.
But a job title could never tell you much about Sue.
Sue was feisty, funny, strong, stubborn, and completely unapologetic about being herself. She had opinions, she wasn’t afraid to share them, and you rarely had to wonder where you stood with her. If Sue liked you, you knew it. If she didn’t, well—you probably knew that too. Beneath that stubborn streak and unmistakable personality was a sweet side reserved for the people she loved, and being one of those people meant something.
Sue was also a fighter—not just at the end of her life, but throughout it. Life handed her more than her share of difficult days, losses, and battles, and somehow, she kept going. Again and again, she found a way forward. She persevered through things that could have easily broken her spirit, carrying a strength that wasn’t always loud or graceful, but was undeniably hers. She fought hard for her life, for her independence, and for the people and things that mattered to her. Giving up simply wasn’t in Sue’s nature.
She found happiness in the things that were uniquely hers: needlepointing, exploring Florida, people-watching, cheering on the Browns, and spending time at the beach—even if she didn’t get there nearly as often as she would have liked. Country music was a longtime favorite, and in her younger years, she loved listening to bands and line dancing. And through the years, one thing remained certain: Sue did not miss an episode of Days of Our Lives.
Sue’s life was also defined by the family she leaves behind and by those she loved and lost along the way.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Sally; her sister, Diane; her brother, Billy; and her son, BR.
She is survived by her husband of 25 years, Gary; her daughter, Melissa (Steve); her granddaughters, Nicole (Derrick) and Sammi (Darren); her great-grandchildren, Leo and Olivia; and, of course, her beloved fur babies, Sadie and Gina.
In accordance with Sue’s wishes, there will be no funeral or memorial service. It was one final decision made exactly the way Sue wanted it—and anyone who knew her knows that is perfectly fitting.
Sue wasn’t someone who could easily be summed up in a few paragraphs. She was funny and difficult, sweet and stubborn, fiercely strong and entirely herself. She could make you laugh, make you shake your head, and probably make you mad—all while making herself impossible to forget.
She lived life on her own terms. She fought when life gave her reasons to quit. She got back up when life knocked her down. She loved in her own way. And through everything she faced, she remained exactly who she was.
And that is exactly how she will be remembered.
Unmistakably, unapologetically Sue.
