Carol Jane Sullivan, 90, died with dignity and love on August 8th, with family and dear friends by her side. She had lived a full life, maintaining friendships over decades, encouraging and celebrating the lives of her young friends, living in the present while telling a story or two along the way. Her faith helped her to remain positive and optimistic during her final years. She attended daily mass and volunteered at Volunteers In Medicine until this year.

She was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1935, the youngest of four children of James and Elizabeth Yardley. Her parents survived the Depression by moving into the basement and renting the upper floors of their home on Haring Street in Good Shepard Parish. Her two brothers, James and Bob left Brooklyn to serve in World War II when Carol was six and grew up with a special inclusion in the high school social circle of her sister Marion while attending Good Shepherd and St. Brendan’s. 

Carol became the cool aunt to nine nieces and nephews, working as an executive assistant in Manhattan after graduating from the Katherine Gibbs School. In her words, she didn’t have to watch Madmen because she had lived it. She supported executives at CBS Records when the Beatles were part of their portfolio. She drove a Volkswagen Bug and took up skiing, saving her money to finance vacations in the Alps and Rockies. Carol was self-supporting and independent, achieving success in the bustling business world, driving her Volkswagen Bug to visit her siblings and their families, and taking vacations with friends.

After moving to New Jersey, she married Ed Sullivan in 1975, bought a home in Nutley and continued her career at a small publicly-traded holding company that she had joined as the first full-time employee. She retired as a Vice President and she and Ed headed south to become one of the first homeowners in the Danforth community in Palm City. She and Ed were devoted to each other, helping each other grow throughout their retirement. They entertained often in their home and became active members of Holy Redeemer Church making many friends that comprised their “Florida family.” Since Ed’s passing in 2007, Carol has spent holidays and maintained lasting relationships this extended family.

After relocating to Florida, Carol helped form a quilting group that remains vibrant to this day. In many ways, the “quilt” is a metaphor for the way she has lived her life. Her quilts live on in the homes of her youngest friends having been gifted to honor marriages and births. Quilting is symbolic of her ability to sustain friendships be a supportive member of so many communities. We were all blessed to have been part of her life quilt.

Carol is survived by five nieces and three nephews, eighteen of their children, her dear friend of 86 years, Eileen Cain, and her extended Florida family including Lois and Paul Koenig, Katie Schmidt, Lauretta Kastelic, and Sharon Fry. She was predeceased by her parents, siblings, husband and three dogs, Scooter, Bentley and Merry.

A visitation will be held between 3 and 5 PM on Wednesday, August 12th at the Forest Hills Funeral Home at 2001 SW Murphy Rd, Palm City, FL. A funeral Mass will be held at Holy Redeemer Church at 10:30 AM on Thursday August 13th at Holy Redeemer Church 1454 SW Mapp Rd, Palm City, FL.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Volunteers in Medicine (vimclinic.net), where Carol had volunteered for several years.