Sister Pat Sullivan, CSJ

Sister Pat Sullivan was a Sister of St. Joseph for 70 years. All who knew Pat know of her warmth, attention, generosity and joyful spirit.  She knew of God’s love for her first from her parents, Patrick and Mary.  Drawn to the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Pat entered our congregation in 1947 to live our mission of love of God and neighbor without distinction.  She earned a Bachelor’s Degree from St. John’s University and a Masters in History from Manhattan College.

As an elementary school teacher in St. Agnes Seminary,  Immaculate Conception and St. Anthony of Padua,  she could perceive the uniqueness of each child and respond with insight and joy.  They learned of God’s love through her unusual attentiveness and care. Pat continued to teach in Puerto Rico at Academia Santa Monica and Academia San Jorge.  When she returned to the states,  Pat taught in Holy Cross,  Our Lady of Lourdes and in the Academy of St. Joseph.  Enjoying the simple pleasures in life that included a bacon cheeseburger or a warm fuzzy to be given away, Pat reflected the unconditional love of the God she knew first hand in her life.

When faced with challenges and illness as in these last months of her life, she was like the good wife described in Proverbs who spoke with wisdom,  was strong,  respected and not afraid of the future.  She knew in her heart the words of her beloved St. Paul that nothing can separate us from the love of God.  We know that nothing can separate us from you,  Pat,  because just as when a single grain of wheat drops to the ground and dies it will only produce more. The example of Pat’s life will bear new life in all who knew her and we are grateful.

Sister Pat Sullivan, CSJ died on October 22, 2016 in the 70th year of her religious life.