Obituary of Loretta Joan Sullivan
Loretta Joan Sullivan was called to heaven on Saturday, October 21. Joan was born on January 21, 1931 in Albany, New York, to Charles and Loretta Weaver. She attended schools in Albany and in her senior year of high school rode the train cross country, settling in San Mateo with her family. She graduated from Mercy High School and subsequently attended St. Joseph’s School of Nursing, earning her RN and passing her nursing finals the day before she married the love of her life, Donald Sullivan, M.D., in 1951. They worked together at Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska and moved around while Don was in the Navy. Don and Joan settled in Gridley in the early 60s where Joan was a homemaker, gardener, seamstress, fruit and vegetable canner, crafts enthusiast, home decorator, remodeler and general handy-woman. She also served as the nurse in Don’s family practice for many years. But Joan’s greatest vocation and the role that brought her the most pride was that of being a mother. She and Don adopted, nurtured and loved all of their children.
Joan was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church parish. She volunteered time in the community as den mother for the Cub Scouts, with the Gridley Swim Team, as an advisor with the Catholic Youth Organization, and assisted in many immunization clinics and youth team physicals.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Don, her mother and father, and sister Betty Knebel.
Joan is survived by sons: Ed Sullivan and Bill (Tina) Sullivan, of Gridley; daughters: Kathy (John III) McHenry, of Sparks and Laurie Sullivan, of Gridley; and five grandchildren: Maycee, Kyle (Christina), Matt (Jenny), John IV (Tammie) McHenry, and Hannah Easley; as well as nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Chuck (Carolyn) Weaver; brother-in-law, Bob Knebel, and Don’s siblings: Terry (Ann) Sullivan and Mary (Jeff) Prolo; brother-in-law, Lewis (Sally) McClellan and sister-in-law, Suzanne Sullivan; as well as many other family members.
She was fortunate to have many friends and neighbors who were dear to her heart, but none more than her closest friend, Joan Mardesich.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Gridley-Block Funeral Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, October 28, at 10:00 a.m., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Celebration of Life to follow at the Moose Lodge. Private burial will be at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to FOCUS (formerly Children’s Home Society).