One of the loveliest laughs and most infectious smiles left our world on Friday January 7, 2011 when Sheila Marie Sullivan died peacefully at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena, MT. Her positive attitude and tenacious spirit finally succumbed to the congestive heart failure she courageously battled over the past several years.
Sheila was born on March 7, 1935 to James Roy and Margaret (O’Meara) Sullivan in Butte, America. Sheila and her older sister Joan enjoyed a idyllic childhood in their beloved mining city. Sheila thrived in the Catholic school system and graduated from Girls Central in 1953. After graduation she spent two years at San Francisco College for Women before receiving her B.A. in Drama from the University of Montana in 1957. She pursued graduate work in Drama at Catholic University in Washington D.C. before returning to teach English at Butte High School. During her second year of teaching, she was romanced by the charming and persistent Townsend native, Peter W. Sullivan. After a brief courtship, they were married on November 28, 1959. What followed was a marvelous 51 year union rivaling any of her favorite romance novels.
Sheila and Peter made their post-nuptial home in Helena where Peter worked as a banker for First National Bank. In 1963, they launched Sullivan Financial Group. In between raising six children and working on numerous charitable projects, Sheila was instrumental in building the fledgling enterprise into the successful business it is today.
True to her gregarious and civic minded nature, Sheila immersed herself in volunteer pursuits in her newly adopted town. She was a founding member of several organizations including: The Grandstreet Theatre, Metropolitan Dinner Club and the Miss Helena Scholarship Pageant. She also enjoyed the distinction of serving as the first woman to chair the Helena School Board. Other organizations she participated in at various times of her life included: Jayceens, Girl Scouts, Carroll College Little Theater, Community Concert (Live at the Civic), United Way of Helena, St. Helena Cathedral Marriage Preparation Team, the Montana Historical Society, Lewis & Clark Foundation and Red Hats. Her volunteer work was acknowledged in 1992 by Carroll College when she was honored as one of Helena’s Outstanding Citizens of the Year.
Peter and Sheila shared a great passion for travel and traversed the globe over many decades. In fact the one regret Sheila lamented in life was choosing to purchase curtains instead of joining her husband for a trip to Miami in 1969. A mistake she never made again. Sheila cherished her friends whom she joined for lunch, bridge, board meetings, holidays and, when she couldn’t avoid it, golf. She was always eager to share a giggle over the latest neighborhood gossip and community chatter.
Perhaps her most successful and cherished endeavor was raising her six unique children and watching their lives unfold. Her children include USN Captain Jimmer (Brigid) Sullivan of Stuttgart,Germany; Margaret Rucka-Sullivan of Virginia Beach; ReNell (USN Captain Ret’d Jeff) Gradeck of Stuttgart, Germany; Peter Dan (Sarah) Sullivan of Helena; Shawn (Sunde) Sullivan of Coon Rapids, MN; Erin Sullivan of Manhattan, KS. Her grandchildren include Connor, Logan and Mollie Sullivan; Amanda, Meghan, and Nicole Rucka; Sam, Luke, and Kate Sullivan.
Sheila will be remembered as a wonderfully colorful woman who lived life to the fullest with energy, enthusiasm and vitality. Although she would be the first to admit her faults, we will always cherish her as being authentic, compassionate, and endearing. Aside from her children and grandchildren, she is survived by her beloved husband Peter and her sister Joan Farmin of Sand Point, ID. She is preceded in death by her parents and her granddaughter Mary Sullivan.
The family would like to express their enormous gratitude for the support, prayers, friendship and love given to Sheila over her lifetime. For those wanting to provide charitable contributions in Sheila’s name, some of her most dearly loved organizations included The Grandstreet Theatre, The United Way of Helena, The Lewis & Clark County Foundation, and The Friendship Center.
Visitation hours will be from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday, January 10 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home. Vigil service will be 7:00 p.m. at Cathedral of Saint Helena. Funeral Mass will be noon Tuesday, January 11 at Cathedral of Saint Helena. A reception will be held at Green Meadow Country Club immediately following the Mass. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.aswfuneralhome.com.
Allen and Becci Jones says
We know the Sullivan family will be grieving an amazing mother, grandmother and wife. Our sympathies are with you.
Anita Linden says
I am sorry to hear about your mother. May God bless you and your families.
Bill & Judy Coddington says
Dear Pete and all the Sullivan kids, we are so sorry to hear of Sheila’s passing. She was truly one of Helena’s grandest ladies. Blessings to each of you.
Bob and Mary Howard says
Our prayers are with Pete and the family. A wonderful lady has been lost to the world. It was wonderful to have Sheila as a friend and a neighbor on our one street neighborhood.
Chris and Susan Layeux says
Dear Sullivan family, our thoughts and prayers go out to you at this time of loss.
Cliff and Kathy Reder says
Sullivan Family: We would like to express our condolences to you at the passing of Sheila. We will keep you in our prayers.
Dave and Sue Casey says
Dear Pete: What a tragedy to hear of Sheila’s passing. We send all our prayers and sympathy to you and your family. We will miss her very much.
Dave and Sue Casey
Denise says
I am so sorry for your loss. Please except my sincerest condolences. You can always lean upon God in the heavens to give you strength and support. (Psalm 55:22; John 5:28, 29)
Dianna Lintner says
My sincere condolences to the Sullivan family and friends, especially Erin, Shawn and Peter. Helena will miss all her inspiration, her passion, and her great deeds.
Miss Me, But Let Me Go
Author Unknown
When I come to the end of the road, and the sun has set for me. I want no rites in a gloom-filled room. Why cry for a soul set free? Miss me a little—but not for long, and not with your head bowed low. Remember the love that we once and still share. Miss me, but let me go. For this is a journey we all must take, and each must go alone. It’s all a part of the Master’s plan, sharing on the journey home. When you are lonely and sick at heart, Go to the friends and family we know. And bury your sorrow in good deed. Miss me… but let me go.
Donald & Jean Schmit says
Our sincerest condolences to you and your family.
Dorothy Ratcliff says
My sympathy to all the family, including Joan. I will miss Sheila at our Broadwater Athletic Club classes and volunteering at the Mt. Historical Society.
Most of all, I’ll miss that built-in smile!
Jack & Bernie Weiser says
We are deeply saddened. Our years in Helena were enriched by the friendship of Sheila and Pete.
Jeff and Geri Graley says
Dear Pete and Family,
What a lovely woman Sheila was – we were so sorry to hear of her passing. Our thoughts and love are with you. Geri and jeff
JIm & Sharron Larson says
Dear Peter,
Sharron & I want to express our deepest sorrow to you and yours for the loss of your lovely wife, Sheila. We will always remember our times together with you both at various Carroll College events over the past few years.
Lots of Love from the Larsons,
Jim . . . and Sharron, too!
Joan Carlson says
Dear Peter,
My sincerest condolences to you and your family at this difficult time.
Prayers,
Joan Carlson
John Ross says
With my deepest sympathy, you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Kristi Barth says
Sullivans, I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. I’m thinking of you and sending prayers your way. ReNell–let me know if I can support you in any way. Kristi Barth
Leah Hoffmann_Bernhardt says
I am so sad to hear of your loss. I loved her like another mom. my heart and thoughts are with you all.
Lisa DeGroat Goodrich says
Dear Sullivan Family,
We are so sorry for your loss. You are in our prayers. May you take comfort in the wonderful life together that you’ve had.
Sincerely, Lisa (DeGroat) Goodrich and Family
Mary Brydich says
Peter, Dan and Family – I am so sorry to hear of Sheila’s passing. She was an amazing woman. Please accept my condolences for your loss.
Pearl Winsor says
Dear Pete and all your children,
It is so hard to loose a wife and mother. My prayers and thoughts are with you.
It is hard for me to loose another long time friend and neighbor.
Pete, I’m so please that I set with you and Sheila at the Church’s Thanksgiving dinner in November.
Sheila and I had such a great visit…catching up on our lives and all our kids and their current adventures. It was fun for both of us to reminisce about Shawn and Mike and their birthday parties, sleep overs, and long hours of riding bikes and playing on Mr. Helena…and their mischief around the neighborhood and at Hawthorne.
I remember visiting with Shelia at our kitchen tables, in the grocery store, at Church, at school meetings and just everywhere we met.
But time moves on and with it, people. Heaven surely has more laughter now.
I do know from experience, that such losses in this world have their way of healing with time.
Shelia is on an adventure that we will share someday.
God bless you all. My love is with you.
Pearl Winsor
R.F.Burke says
Dear Peter, I was shocked and saddened to read of Sheila’s passing. Please accept my sincere sympathy and extend my thoughts to your family. I will remember her in my prayers.
Bob
Ralph & Rita Aylstock says
We were saddened to hear of Sheila’s passing and our condolences go out to Pete and family.
Randy and Sherri Mosley says
Dear Peter and family,
We are sorry to hear about the loss of your mother, wife, grandmother and best friend. Although we did not know Sheila that well, she was obviously a bright star in your lives and the lives of so many others. It is so remarkable how one person can impact so many lives in such a positive way. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, take care.
Sandy Melendi says
Shawn and family, I am so sorry about the passing of your mother, wife, friend. My thoughts are with you.
Sandy Vincent (owens) says
Peter, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Sheila was a very wonderful person. I know your family is very close and my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Steve and Jackie Brehe says
Dear Peter and family:
We are saddened to learn about Shiela’s death. She embodied hope and joy and enthusiastically shared her gifts with everyone. We are wintering in St. George UT, so we will not be able to come to her funeral. Distance may separate us, but prayer brings us close. Be assured that we are holding all of you in our hearts. God bless,
Steve and Jackie Brehe
Sue Bartlett & Gene Fenderson says
The obituary caught Sheila’s spirit so acurately. Her smile and the twinkle in her eye were infectious and always made everyone just feel happy. She will be so missed. You have our deepest sympathy.
Tim Love says
To Uncle Pete and all my cousins,
My deepest sympathy to all of you. Aunt Sheila was certainly one of a kind. She will be missed, but memories of her will live forever.
Toni Ward Hirose says
To the Sullivan Family,
Please accept my deepest sympathy in Sheila’s passing. I have many fond memories of the Sullivan family and of Sheila. She was a great mom and will surely be missed. May you all find peace in memories and one another. With love and good blessings to all of you…Toni (Ward) Hirose