Susan L. Waldstein, Psychotherapist

ASHLAND – Susan L. Waldstein of Ashland died on April 27, 2023, after a valiant six-year struggle against ovarian cancer.

Susan is survived by her loving spouse, Ellen Burns, by her grandchildren, Caleb and Franklin Burns, and Emil and Kieran Chy-Burns, by her sister, Elaine Malpelli, and a nephew, Alex Malpelli.

Susan was born in Jersey City NJ to the late Gertrude and Erwin Waldstein. She grew up in West Orange NJ, then moved to Boston to attend Boston University, and subsequently spent the rest of her life in the Boston area.

Susan was awarded a Master’s Degree in counseling at Tufts University and worked as an addictions specialist for several years. She subsequently achieved a lifelong dream by earning a second Master’s Degree, this time in social work, from Simmons University, and spending the rest of her professional life as a psychotherapist in private practice. Susan loved her work and was devastated when her illness forced a premature retirement.

Susan will be remembered lovingly by her friends for her intelligence, her humor, her infectious laugh, her love of music, especially jazz, of travel, and, most of all of her friends and family. She was determined to live her life fully, and she did.

Services will be held at 11AM on Monday, May 1st at Congregation Or Atid, 97 Concord Rd, Wayland. Interment to follow at Beit Olam East Cemetery in Wayland.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Susan’s memory may be made to either Dana Farber Cancer Institute at danafarber.org/give, or to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at give.birds.cornell.edu