On July 18, 2026, the world lost a compassionate and loving soul. Susan Martha Kraus Gallitano, 78, passed away peacefully in Kingston, Massachusetts. Susan was the beloved wife of the late Joseph Gallitano, with whom she shared 48 years of marriage and a life together in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Key West, Florida, and Sagamore Beach on Cape Cod. She was the devoted mother of Joshua Gallitano of Boston; the cherished daughter of the late Charles and Margaret Kraus; the loving sister of Kathie Vasell of Boca Raton, Florida, and the late Peggy Calitre of Ramsey, New Jersey.

Born in Teaneck and raised in Bogota, New Jersey, Susan grew up in a lively Czech / Irish household with her parents and two older sisters. She attended Holy Angels High School in Fort Lee, New Jersey, where she loved dance and school theater productions. After graduation, she attended Trinity College, in Washington, D.C. where she discovered her passion for politics, majored in political science, and worked on Capitol Hill.

As the Broadway musical Rent famously says, "You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can't take the Jersey out of the girl," Susan embodied that spirit throughout her life. She never lost her warmth, her quick wit, or her willingness to speak her mind. Her professional journey was as diverse as her interests. While Joe served in the Navy, Susan worked in advertising and television promotions in Corpus Christi, Texas. After moving to Boston, she joined Filene's Department Store, planning public relations campaigns and major promotional events. She especially loved telling the story of choosing Chubby Checker to headline a seasonal event over an upstart, unknown local rock band called...Aerosmith. But everyone loves the twist!

Drawn by her desire to help others, Susan earned a Master's degree in education and guidance from Bridgewater State University and found a career that suited her. First, she first worked in counseling and career guidance at Wheaton College and Bentley University, helping students navigate the often-intimidating transition from college to career. Her advice was simple but enduring: "Sometimes it's as easy as putting one foot in front of the other. You can always change direction. But, you need to keep moving."

For the next 30 years, Susan served as a guidance counselor at Sacred Heart High School, where she became a trusted mentor to generations of students and their families. She listened carefully to students, calmed anxious parents, and celebrated every acceptance letter as though it were her own child's triumph. Few people realize how many lives a guidance counselor can touch. Over three decades, Susan quietly helped hundreds of young people believe in themselves. Every spring, her family knew college decision season had arrived because Susan would happily recite where every senior had applied, been accepted, and attended. Nothing made her prouder than watching her students discover their futures.

As devoted as she was to her students, Susan's greatest focus was her family, which she nurtured with limitless energy, enthusiasm, and love. If Joe was the adventurer, leading fishing trips through the Florida Keys, sailing excursions from Plymouth Yacht Club around Cape Cod and the Islands, or navigating the turbulent waters of Massachusetts politics during his campaigns for Selectman and the State House, Susan was the anchor, the safe port of call. She always found time for the people who needed her. She was happy to drive to one more practice, pick someone up after school, or read yet another English or history paper. When life brought disappointment, frustration, or uncertainty, Susan had an extraordinary gift for helping others regain perspective. Her empathy, her quiet optimism, her deep faith, and her abiding gratitude reminded those around her that even difficult moments eventually give way to hope. This was her superpower.

Although her immediate family was small, her chosen family was abundant. Her close circle of friends, affectionately known as the "Goddesses," filled her life with laughter, encouragement, and an ocean of cherished memories. Their friendships were forged over years spent together on soccer sidelines, in baseball bleachers, beside tennis courts, along swim pools at the Eel River Beach Club, and around countless kitchen tables. Susan enjoyed their camaraderie. She treasured Saturday morning coffee gatherings, annual Christmas parties, monthly birthday celebrations, and book club meetings where conversations always drifted from the book itself to updates about children, grandchildren, and life. The books never seemed to mind.

Susan will be remembered for her kindness, her grace, her unwavering encouragement, and her remarkable ability to make people feel heard, valued, and loved. She leaves behind family, friends, former students, and colleagues whose lives are richer because she was part of them. Her light will continue to shine in the hearts of all who knew her.

Relatives and friends are invited to gather in honor and remembrance of Susan's life at Bartlett Funeral Home, 338 Court Street, Plymouth, Massachusetts, on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, 313 Court Street, Plymouth. Interment will follow at Vine Hills Cemetery, Samoset Street, Plymouth.