Seven Sullivans
True Story
The Seven Sullivan’s. Three of them passed on or near Christmas Day. Both Grandmother and Mildred O’Brian passed at 8:30 PM on December 25. When Margaret passed on December 23, her four son’s traveled to her residence, and prepared her for services. They decided not to call relatives until after Christmas. No need to spoil everyone’s holiday. Around 10:00 PM on Christmas Day a call came from a cousin… She had bad news. Mildred passed at 8:30 PM today. When she was informed of Margaret’s passing she replied, “That explains it… For the last two days my Mom kept asking why is Margaret here, and what does she want?” Now we know.
(See the Chart below)
A Grandma
What a battle it must have been raising seven girls in the twenties and thirties. The cost of seven weddings would break most banks. And what car was built during that era that could hold nine people? Three in the front seat, one in the lap and five in the back? No seatbelts to be concerned with.
This is the Grand Mother referenced in the lead story who died on Christmas day, same date and time as her fourth daughter… Strange?
| NAME | BORN | B/DAY | AGE | PASSED | D/DAY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELLEN | 2/1912 | WED | 73 | 11/1985 | MON |
| MARY | 3/1915 | [FRI] | 88 | 5/2003 | SAT |
| DOROTHY | 7/1916 | [SUN] | 88 | 1/2005 | SAT |
| MILDRED | 6/1917 | [SAT] | 79 | 12/1996 | WED |
| MARGARET | 6/1922 | MON | 74 | 12/1996 | MON |
| JOSEPHINE | 11/1924 | [SAT] | 83 | 4/2008 | FRI |
| MARION | 10/1925 | MON | 81 | 3/2007 | THR |
Margaret Lowe Sullivan
September 1893 – December 1972
A Dad
Born in May of 1924, his world was 180 degrees from today’s pressures and superfluities. His place was simplistic and mechanical, common since answered every question and solved every problem.
Although he was a simple man, he performed difficult tasks with ease. He took time to think it over. He was a craftsman, a protector and a perfectionist. His first and foremost lesson was, “If you can’t figure it out… always follow the money.” We learned knowledge isn’t power, and that the best use of knowledge is where real power rests.
No need to delve in to his personal life… it’s no different than his aforementioned demeanor with this difference: He had an 8th grade education because he dropped out of school to care for his family after his father abandon them; he was an entrepreneur; and an excellent bowler.
One thing the family remembers well was Dad’s lifelong claim of a childhood dream. “I’ll live to see the year 2000,” he said in a time when male life expectancy was 57.8 years.
Even on his deathbed his humor couldn’t reach any further than: How do you feel Dad? He replied… “With my hands!”
