Obituary of Susan Ann Chase

Susan “Sue” Ann (Drouin) Chase, 74, of East Millinocket, Maine passed peacefully from this life at home after a gradual decline in health. Supported and surrounded by her loving husband of 25 years, family, friends, and caregivers during the last days of her life, Sue was cherished by many. Sue was born on May 5, 1949, to Jeanette and Wilfred Drouin Sr. in Rumford, Maine. She was one of five, three brothers and one sister, Wilfred Drouin Jr., and his wife Darlene (predeceased) of Lagrange, Maine, Philip Drouin of East Windsor, Connecticut, Joseph Drouin and his wife Diane of Eustis, Maine, and Cynthia Gates and her husband Michael of Winter Haven, Florida.

Sue graduated from Rumford High School June 8, 1967, and married her first husband, Gerald S. Nowlin Sr. (predeceased) two days later June 10, 1967. Her husband’s career brought them to Connecticut to start their lives as a young couple. She worked in several industries as a machine operator, waitress, deli clerk and retail associate for well-known companies Hamilton Standard, Geissler’s Supermarket, and Casual Corner. Sue returned to Maine in 1989 after Muscular Dystrophy forced her first husband into early retirement. She continued her career in the restaurant and hospitality field in the Bethel/Newry area. Sue was widowed in November of 1997 and in the spring of 1998, she met her second husband David “Dave” Chase at Sunday River Ski area. The couple were married May 29, 1999, and from that moment on she gave her hand to him.

The couple journeyed to Florida in 2004 where they enjoyed music and meeting new friends. Sue found a rewarding career in the home health care field for 14 years. After Sue’s retirement, she became a snowbird, living part-time in Florida and part-time in Maine. She enjoyed being up at Baxter State Park (where her husband worked) helping clean sites and would volunteer at the gate. All the Rangers dearly loved her.

Sue was a breast cancer survivor, first diagnosed in 1996. After a five-year treatment she was deemed cancer free for 22 years. In 2019, she was then diagnosed with stage four bone cancer, where shortly after, her and Dave moved back to Maine. Four years later, Sue was diagnosed with brain cancer on June 14, 2023. She was an amazing warrior and fought through everything with a smile and positivity. She was cared for by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and spent recovery time at Sarah’s House of Maine, where her loving husband was always by her side.

Sue loved everyone, especially her family. She was best known for her beautiful smile and positive outlook on everything – the glass was always half full. Sue loved family gatherings, the time she spent at her church, the beach, music, dancing, going to fairs and casinos, playing any game… especially Yahtzee, Bingo, and her opponents considered her the champion at Scrabble.

She is survived by her children Gerald S. Nowlin Jr. and his girlfriend Ericka of Mexico, Maine and Melisa A. Luce and her husband Thomas of Ellington, Connecticut, and her stepdaughter, Jillian Chase of Dover, New Hampshire. She loved her grandchildren, all seven of them, and six great grandchildren.

Sue’s service will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in East Millinocket, Maine, on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, Sue’s request was to donate to Sarah’s House of Maine Click to Donate