Lillian Rita Sullivan

Lillian Rita (Kelley) Sullivan, 79, died Friday morning surrounded by her family, in Tewksbury, MA, after a lengthy and courageous struggle with Alzheimer's disease. She was the beloved and cherished wife of Raymond J. Sullivan with whom she celebrated their fifty-sixth wedding anniversary this year.

She was born in Lowell, on March 17, 1928, and raised in the Highlands. She was the daughter of the late Lillian (Rountree) and Simon Kelley and was predeceased by her sister Elsie (Kelley) O'Neill and brother-in-law John J. O'Neill, Jr.

Mrs. Sullivan graduated from Lowell High School and enjoyed a position as a telephone operator with the former American Telephone & Telegraph Company in Lowell for several years prior to her marriage. She resided in the Centerville section of Lowell for nearly thirty years, where she raised her growing family. Mrs. Sullivan took great pride in her role as mother and homemaker. She dedicated her life to instilling in her children a love of family, a sense of responsibility and a strong imagination. She is remembered for her sense of humor, her love of Irish music and her compassion for friends and strangers, but most fondly as a supportive and loyal wife, a loving and devoted mother, an attentive grandmother, and a role model.

She enjoyed skiing and swimming with her young children, caring for her grandkids, many years of antique collecting with her husband and visiting the ocean as often as possible. As proprietor of the "Old Salt Guesthouse and Cottages", in Hampton Beach, NH, she and her family hosted many local residents who vacationed there during the 1970's and 80's.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, grand-children, and great-grand child: Deborah and Francis G. McDougall, of Quechee VT, their children Robert, Peter, Michael, Stephen (Bo) and Sarah; Dr. Donna M. Sullivan of Huntington, WV; Katherine (Kate) and Jesse L. Lyons of Lebanon, NH, their children Amy and David, and her great-grand son Declan J. Lyons; Raymond and Jane (Carr) Sullivan of Dunstable, their children Megan, Gabrielle, Keri (Randall) Rich, Chris Randall and his son Christopher Randall; Robert and Anne (Musto) Sullivan of Lowell & Ashland, NH and their daughter Wendi; Mark Sullivan and the late Michael M. O'Connor of Chelmsford; David and Diane (Lansman) Sullivan of Hollis, NH, their children Bridget, James, Sean and Lillian; Michael and Christine (Majewski) Sullivan of Temple, NH, and their son Tyler.

She is also survived by her husband's family: D. Harold and Eileen Sullivan of Andover; Sister Theresa Marie (Eileen) Sullivan formerly of the Sacred Heart parish, now Buffalo NY; Alice and the late James J. Sullivan of Lowell, Loretta and the late Donald Sullivan of Wakefield, MA. Many beloved nieces, nephews and long-time friends also survive her. A dearly loved niece, Anne Marie Sullivan, also predeceased her.