Carmela Mae Sullivan

Carmela Mae Sullivan of Mountlake Terrace WA passed away on Thursday February 6th at the age of 92. She was born on May 29, 1932 in Aplington Iowa where she grew up with her Mother Bessie Grego and her Father Sam Grego along with 6 sisters and 1 brother. Her Dad worked for the railroad and immigrated to the US via Ellis Island NY at the age of 35 from Sambiase Italy and could not read or write but supported his family of 10 as a Foreman for the railroad.

She graduated from in Cedar Falls High School in Iowa in 1950.

She married Ralph Sullivan in Omaha NE in 1955 at the age of 23 and started a family soon thereafter in 1956 raising David, Connie, Carol and Dennis in the Omaha area. They divorced in 1980 (Ralph passed in 2009) and Carm never remarried.

She worked as a Lead Bookkeeper her entire work life and loved it so much she didn’t fully retire until she was 84 years old. She spent over 20 years at Leisure Lanes Bowling Alley in Omaha NE, then for Turf Paradise Horse Race Track in Phoenix AZ and eventually ended up in Seattle WA working for the WA State Convention Center. She retired from there for about 5 minutes and then decided to go back to work and spent the remaining work years at Google Headquarters in Kirkland WA until she was pretty much forced to leave at 84 years of age…………..AND SHE DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE, SHE WANTED TO KEEP WORKING! 😊 Mom LOVED being a Bookkeeper and she told us that all the time!

She was actively involved in Trinity Lutheran Church, the Red Hats, knitting and crocheting, loved her Chinese Checkers, old Cowboy movies and making puzzles that she would mount and give to family/friends as gifts.

She was preceded in death by her parents and 7 siblings and even though she was born in the middle of the pack, she outlived all of them by over 8 years.

She is survived by their son David Sullivan, Daughter Connie Gardner, Daughter Carol Durst, and Son Dennis Sullivan along with their respective Spouses Katherine Sullivan, Jack Gardner & Karen Sullivan. She has 10 Grandchildren and 8 Great Grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the excellent team at Providence Hospice of Snohomish who provided care and guidance in the final months.

In lieu of flowers, you may choose to make a donation to Providence Home Care & Hospice of Snohomish County.