Virginia Marie Sullivan
February 26, 2017Share using:
Virginia Marie Sullivan entered eternal rest on February 26, 2017. She was born August 30, 1927 in Hancock, MI, daughter of the late John and Marie Manderfield. She attended St. Joseph School and was a graduate of Hancock Central High School. She went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN and worked for Michigan DHS prior to having her children. She valued her education from Scholastica and remained connected through her Benedictine friends at the Saint Scholastica Monastery. She exhibited this pride many times during her illness, proclaiming “Viva St. Scholastica” to care givers that were fellow alumni.
She married Paul Sullivan June 18, 1955. Together they had five children. Following the death of her husband in 1971, Virginia devoted her life to her children. She worked at Hancock Hardware where she enjoyed greeting and helping all of the customers.
Her Catholic faith was the center of Virginia’s life and she was an active member of the Church of the Resurrection in Hancock. She participated in many aspects of the church such as serving on the parish council, religious education and Eucharistic minister.
In recent years Virginia moved to Duluth MN to be closer to family where she lived at St. Ann’s. She enjoyed life at St. Ann’s participating in social activities, attending daily mass and playing I Pad solitaire with her dear friend Lois. They were considered “tech savvy seniors” to all at St. Ann’s.
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Sullivan and brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Dorothy Manderfield. She is survived by her children, Marie Sullivan, Duluth, MN; Patty Sullivan, Duluth, MN; Alice (Michael) Walker, McMillan, MI; Kathy (John) Gagnon, Enfield, NH; Dan (Becky) Sullivan, Cameron, WI. Virginia was the proud Grandma/Nana to Brendon (Danielle) Walker, Erin (Nick) Wheeler, Katie Walker, Kelsey and Ian Gagnon and Luke, Sophie and Lucy Sullivan. She was also blessed with great grandchildren Easton and Brayden Walker and Madeline Wheeler, all of whom were her “sunshine”. She is also survived by her beloved nieces and nephews, the Manderfields, who loved their Aunt Ginny, as well as her “church” family at the Church of the Resurrection and friends in the Copper Country and Duluth.
Virginia’s family would like to thank her care team, Dr. Jeff Nelson and staff at Essentia St. Mary’s in Duluth, the Essentia St. Mary’s Hospice Home care team and all her compassionate care givers at St. Ann’s, especially Dale. God Bless you mom, you are now at peace.
Visitation will be on Thursday, March 2, 2017 at the O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home in Hancock from 4 until 7 P.M. The Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:30 A.M. on Friday, March 3, 2017 at the Church of the Resurrection in Hancock with Rev. Fr. William Ssozi to officiate. Spring interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery of Houghton.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to St. Scholastica Monastery, Duluth; St. Ann’s Residence Duluth or the Church of the Resurrection in Hancock. Go to www.oneilldennisfh.com to leave online condolences.