Obituary of Dolores W. Sullivan

Dolores W. Sullivan, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully at her home in Clarence, New York, on March 29, 2024, at the age of 97. Born on March 26, 1927, in South Buffalo to John and Lillian (Schlatterer) Whalen, she lived a long and fulfilling life, leaving an indelible mark on all those who knew her. Dolores was a devoted wife to the late Jeremiah P. Sullivan, with whom she shared 40 beautiful years of marriage. She was a proud mother to Maureen (Jack) Connors, Jeremiah (Kathleen) Sullivan, Timothy (Mary) Sullivan, Deirdre (August) Tomasello, and Nora (Michael Songin) Sullivan. A loving grandmother to 14 grandchildren: Jeremiah (Helena) Sullivan, Matthew (Camilia) Sullivan, Sean Connors, Deirdre (Michael) Haas, Timothy (Jenna) Sullivan, Maura Connors, Nicole (Ryan) Deary, the late Mary Grace Sullivan, Meghan (Paul Fox) Tomasello, Darcy (Aubrey) Connors, Anthony Tomasello, Victoria Songin, Michael (Marissa) Songin, and Ana Songin; and 9 great-grandchildren: Jeremiah (Catherine) Sullivan, Kathleen Sullivan, Michael Sullivan, Edith Hartley, Shane Sullivan, Henry Haas, Jackson Deary, Sullivan Connors, and Lucy Haas. She was the sister to Monica (the late Joel) Klein and the late Mary (Paul) Braunscheidel. A registered nurse for 75 years, Dolores dedicated her life to the care and well-being of others. She was a 1944 graduate of Our Lady of Victory Hospital School of Nursing and served in the United States Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II. Dolores was honored at the National Women in Military Service Memorial Anniversary Ceremony in Arlington, Virginia, in 2017. She served for 30 years on the faculty as the Director of Student Health Services at D'Youville University, where she made a lasting impact on countless students and faculty. In honor of her service, the university named a wing of the school after her – the Jeremiah P. and Dolores W. Sullivan Health Office. Dolores was a woman of many talents and passions. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, cooking, and swimming at the YMCA. She was a devout Catholic and cherished her trips to Cancun, Mexico, where she found peace and tranquility with wonderful friends. Dolores was the founder of the Clarence Log Cabin Quilters. Her creativity and dedication to her craft were evident in the beautiful quilts she created, which will be cherished by her family for generations to come. Friends and family may call on Thursday, April 4, 2024, from 3 to 7 PM at the James W. Cannan Funeral Home Inc., located at 3155 Orchard Park Rd., Orchard Park, New York. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, April 5, 2024, at 9:15 AM at Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna, New York (please assemble at the church). In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the “Dolores and Jeremiah Sullivan Endowed Nursing Scholarship Fund” at D'Youville University by following this link: https://alumni.dyouville.edu/give. Under Gift Information Designation: please select "Other" from the dropdown menu, and specify the name of the scholarship. These donations will ensure Dolores' legacy of nurturing and supporting the future generations of nurses. Dolores W. Sullivan will be deeply missed by all who knew her, but her memory will live on through the countless lives she touched.