Obituary of Catherine Sullivan

Catherine A. (Selvitella) Sullivan, a woman who devoted her life to her family, faith, and community, passed away at the Sawtelle Family Hospice house on Monday morning, September 27, 2010. The wife of the late Cornelius F. “Connie” she had just celebrated her 82nd Birthday. Cathy was born, raised and educated in Medford. She was the youngest of four children born to the late James and Angela Selvitella. Cathy and husband Connie were married in 1956. They lived in Medford until 1963. They then moved to Burlington where they both became active members of the community. Cathy worked for Film Micro Electronics in Burlington for many years. She also sold Avon. But the most important role in her life was that of wife, mother, grandmother & sister. She had a very close relationship with her sister Rita and talked to her daily on the phone. Cathy was a fabulous baker and she would never come to a meeting or a get together with friends without sharing one of her special baked goods made from scratch. She enjoyed listening to music and also enjoyed playing the piano. Cathy was very devoted to her church St. Margaret’s in Burlington. She sang in the choir for over 25 years. She also represented the parish on the Board of Directors for People Helping People and she also coordinated the “Wish Tree” for the church for many years. She enjoyed visiting the Council on Aging where she participated in their exercise program and had many friendships. Cathy and her husband enjoyed traveling together and had visited Italy and Ireland. They would also spend two weeks in Aruba every November. Cathy never forgot a birthday, anniversary or special event in her family and friends lives. There was always a card with a special note. Cathy was devoted to her two daughters and their children. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy. Cathy was the beloved wife of the late Cornelius F. Sullivan. She was the loving mother of Lorraine Guthrie & her husband Thomas of N. Reading and Karen McIntyre & her husband Patrick of Wilmington. She was the devoted grandmother of Maura, Thomas & Daniel Guthrie and Morgan & Sloane McIntyre. Sister of Rita Tomolillo of Medford & her late husband Frank, Arthur Selvitella & his wife Barbara of Medford, and the late James “Bob” Selvitella. Sister-in-law of Mary Bowen of Walpole & her late husband Tom, Joan Sullivan of North Brookfield, Katherine “Kay” Clooney & her husband Michael of Hopkinton, Daniel Sullivan & his wife Pauline of Hudson, Thomas Sullivan & his wife Judi of Newbury, and the late John Sullivan & his wife Helen of NY. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins & dear friends. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Friday, Oct. 1 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Thursday 4-8 p.m. Interment in Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. Memorials in Cathy’s name may be made to St. Margaret’s Building Fund, 111 Winn St., Burlington, MA 01803 & People Helping People, P. O. Box 343, Burlington, MA 01803. Family remembrance by Tom Lorraine, Karen and their families would like to thank you for coming today to help honor and celebrate the life of their mother, affectionately known as Mimi by her grandchildren, Lady Catherine by her beloved Connie, “Caddie” by her sister Rita, Sis by her brother Arthur, Aunty K, Aunty Cathy, Cathy and mom by others. From her humble beginnings in South Medford, she grew to have as many roles as aliases and nicknames. She was a devoted sister first. The youngest of four, she would try to her hand as a tom-boy running with Arthur and his posse. Then on to trouble maker role in school with her girlfriend Thelma. Sounds like they were the original Thelma and Louise from some of the stories. Having been caught in second grade chewing gum in school, Cathy had to walk around the classroom a few times with the gum stuck to her nose. She snapped to with positive influence from her sister Rita and soon transitioned into a lovely young lady who would develop life long friendships. Dolores who is here today has been a best friend for over 70 years. She would graduate from Medford High School in 1946 and transition into the working world with Employees Liability. There she started her role as taxpayer. She even gave Swimsuit competitor a try while on vacation with her girlfriend Josephine and not surprisingly won the top prize!. Her role of wife began in 1956, right after she had made the acquaintance of Cornelius Francis Kevin Sullivan at a Mandolin class. Connie only had to ask her for one dance and the rest was history as they say. Once the family figured out Connie was Irish- they chased them out of South Medford and Connie and Lady Catherine settled in the countryside of Burlington, MA in 1963. There she would grow into homemaker, mother, shopper, neighbor, and parishioner. This is when Cathy would leverage all her God given gifts and talents. Though some of these gifts she had leveraged earlier in her life, like winning a certain contest in Florida. Her baking skills were demonstrated in the date nut bread she would bake for new neighbors, lemon bread she had baked for Saint Margaret bake sales, blueberry pies for desert on Sundays, lemon meringue cupcakes –a.k.a. lemon Lorraine cupcakes for special students of St. Anselm College, and later her famous twist cookies for family occasions that would be half eaten by the time desert was formally served. By the way, the twist recipe is being auctioned on eBay this weekend and all proceeds are supporting the Guthrie/MacIntyre Family Education Fund. Here is a trivia question for you. How many greeting cards did Mimi purchase over her lifetime? Really no way of telling and there is no way of knowing how Hallmark Cards is being effected and whether they will be able to bounce back because they are a privately held company. Cathy’s role as greeting card sender was unparalleled. I contacted Hallmark’s public relations firm and await a statement. The US Postal Service was appreciative of her business and happy she was off the email/internet grid. Mimi gave of herself to the Burlington community and St. Margaret’s church via filling roles at Girl Scouts, People to People, the Wish Tree during the Christmas Season, Council on Aging, and St. Margaret’s choir, who we are blessed to have singing today. Along with singing, Cathy extended her role as entertainer through her piano playing, dance partner to Connie, and joke telling. On Mother’s Day this year she had us crying laughing with the delivery of every punch line. As with her punch line delivery her timing was perfect when in 2006 when she decided to fill the role of Red Sox fan. Within a years time they won the World Series for a second time in three years and she didn’t have to suffer like the rest of us for 8 decades. We would often talk the next day about the previous nights game and the antics of Orsillo and Remy. But of all the roles and responsibilities she carried, Mimi coveted and cherished the grandmother aka “mimi” label the most. And as good as she was at being a Red Sox fan, baker, joke teller, and shopper, I would have to say that she was a natural at the “Mimi” role. She loved her 5 grandchildren dearly and was always there for them. Maura, Tommy, Danny, Morgan and Sloane. I know you will never forget that no one loved you more than your Mimi. Her final role in life as cancer patient was performed with the grace and dignity Cathy always was known for. She showed her tenacity early in the battle, yet never complained when the going was tough. She is with Connie re-establishing her role as his dance partner as they give new meaning to “Dancing with the Stars”.