Obituary of Joseph Sullivan

Joseph W. Sullivan passed away at his home in Spring Hill, Florida on Friday, afternoon July 25, 2008. The husband of 57 years of Doris (Brazil) he was 85 years old. Joe was born, raised and educated in Watertown. He was one of ten children born to the late William and Agnes Sullivan. He was a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War serving his country in the United States Marine Corp. He was stationed at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and the Central Pacific Area. He participated in the occupation of the Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands. Joe and his wife Doris settled in Lexington in 1954 where they raised their seven children. He worked at Revere Sugar for 32 years as a Quality Control Checker. After his retirement Joe worked at Lex Express in Lexington as a Bus Driver for five years. Joe loved this job where he enjoyed many friendships. In 1991 Joe and Doris retired to Spring Hill in Florida. Joe loved his home and enjoyed the time he spent working in his yard. He was an avid Red Sox and Patriots Fan. Joe also liked to visit the beach and swimming. Joe was blessed to have a life that spanned 85 years filled with many special times spent with his wife Doris and his seven children and their families. Joe is the beloved husband of of 57 years of Doris (Brazil). He is the loving father of Georgette Mousseau of Granite Falls, NC & Spring Hill, FL, Jacqueline Tiano of Westford, Joseph Sullivan of Bedford, Betty Clark of Burlington, Doris Sullivan of Arlington, Kathleen Alexander of Spring Hill, FL, and Patricia Sullivan of Billerica. He is the brother of Dan Sullivan, Betty Sullivan both of Brighton, and the late Marion Lukens, Rita Morris, William, John, Dennis, Thomas and Gloria Sullivan. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Wednesday, July 30 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Tuesday 4-8 p.m. Interment in Westview Cemetery, Lexington. Memorials in Joe’s name may be made to Hernando-Pasco Hospice, Donations Dept., 12107 Majestic Blvd., Hudson, FL 34667. Joseph W Sullivan On behalf of my Mom, Doris, my sisters, Georgette, Jackie, Doris, Kathy, Patty, and my brother, Joe, we would like to thank you for attending today and honoring our Father, Joseph Sullivan. Our Dad, lived 85 years, and he filled those years with many accomplishments, and celebrations. His life centered around 3 things, his family, in particular, our Mom, and his wife of 57 years, his church and his country. As a father of 7 children, our Dad worked tirelessly, to support our family. He possessed an incredible work ethic, and besides always working over time at Revere Sugar, his employer for 32 years, he often times had a part time job. One of his favorites, was working at the Boston Globe on Saturdays. He, along with our, Mom, did everything in their power, to make sure we had what we needed growing up in Lexington. They would do without, to give to us. When we were little, he bought home a pony for my sister Georgette, something he really could not afford, but he knew how desperately she wanted one. Even today, she speaks fondly of that pony, Smokey. Several years later, he built a barn for my sister Kathy’s horse. Along with my brother, Joe, when I was a teenager, my Dad put in a pool. We spent many years hosting family gatherings, at that pool and every Sunday morning, my Dad would spend hours cleaning it. He did not consider it a chore, but a labor of love. Our Dad was so proud of each and every one of us. Like everyone, he was not a perfect man, but like an experienced teacher, he tried to guide us in making the right decisions. Too bad, we did not always listen. He often said, it is only a mistake when we do not learn from it. When I graduated from College, years ago, he took such delight, when I would make a mistake about something and he would say, and you went to college!! He did that with a twinkle in his eye, and I knew he was so proud of me, along with all my siblings. As a devoted catholic, our Dad took his religion very seriously. He never missed weekly Mass and even these last few months at the nursing home, our Mom, would often pick him up on Sundays and bring him to Mass. He recently started mentioning, he was interested in taking bible classes. Several years ago, there was a movie made that did not portray Jesus in a positive light. My Dad was infuriated about this, so at the ripe age of 68, he along with a large number of other Catholics picketed the movie when it opened in Boston. I think he actually made the nightly news that evening. In all his 85 years, our Dad never missed voting in an election. He often said, it did not matter who you voted for, but that you did vote, since, in other countries, people died trying to obtain the right to vote. As a veteran of both World War 11 and the Korean War, our Dad never spoke about being a veteran when we were children. However, in recent years, he did start talking about it. When the movie Saving Private Ryan was popular, a few years ago, he often was stopped on the street, and thanked for being a veteran. Maybe it was the Marine hat that he often wore that tipped them off or the license plate that said, God made the Marines number 1! Our Dad told us often that while in the Marines, all he ever wanted to do was to come home from the South Pacific and raise his family in a house with a white picket fence. Which he did. My sister Doris and I, however, hated that picket fence since we had to paint it every summer! Our Dad became ill in Feb and had to go to the hospital and a rehab facility, and then a nursing home. He was not happy about this, and let every one know it. He was able to come home last Weds and died peacefully with my Mom and my sisters, Georgette and Kathy, and my niece, Jacky, by his side. Let us all cherish the memories we have of my Dad, Joseph Sullivan. Thank you