Obituary of Mary J. Sullivan

Mary J. Sullivan, 85, passed away on June 8, 2022 at Daughters of Israel, West Orange, NJ. Mary was the daughter of Herbert and Kathryn Grandy. She was born in Massachusetts where she married her husband Jack nearly 59 years ago. She spent most of her married life in Rhode Island. She relocated to New Jersey in 2018.

 She was a full-time wife and mom until the 1980s when she returned to work in sales at AT&T after a nearly 20-year hiatus.  Mary returned to work to support her children's high school and college tuition obligations. To Mary, family was always first. She was loved by her husband and her children as well as her several nieces and nephews.

Mary was kind before it became fashionable.  She taught her children kindness through her actions, not just her words.  She was an advocate for the disadvantaged and the lonely. This was done not only by her volunteering through her Church and other service organizations, but it is how Mary lived her life every day.

Mary is survived by her devoted husband, John “Jack” Sullivan and her loving children, Virginia and her husband, Jeff Chiesa, Jon, Tim and his wife, Debbie, and Mark and his wife, Kim. She also survived by her cherished grandchildren, Kaiti, Al, Molly and Hannah as well as her brothers, John Grandy and his wife, Joyce, and Tom Grandy. She was predeceased by her sister-in-law, Lisa, and her brother, Herb Grandy.

Mary enjoyed spending time with her family and this only grew when her grandchildren arrived.  Jack and she traveled to attend all of their grandchildren's recitals, games, plays, graduations and sacraments.  She was very close with all of her grandchildren and never played favorites. They all loved their "Nana."

Mary was diagnosed with cancer in 2018.  Her original diagnosis and prognosis was very bleak but thanks to the efforts and commitment from the medical personnel at St. Barnabas in Livingston, she lived another 4 years.  The family is thankful for everyone who treated or assisted Mary in her cancer journey and is especially grateful to Dr. Jennifer Wagmiller and her wonderful colleagues and staff at the St. Barnabas Cancer Center for everything they did for Mary and Jack since 2018.

While Mary loved flowers, she would have preferred that you remember her by performing simple acts of kindness. The best way to honor and respect Mary's memory would be to reach out to someone who is sick or lonely. Mary would truly appreciate it and you will be better for it.

A Memorial Mass to celebrate Mary’s life will be held on Monday, June 13, 2022, at 10:00 am at St. Thomas More Church, Morristown. Interment of ashes will be at a later date. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler, Madison.