Irene A. Sullivan

YARMOUTH Irene A. Sullivan, of South Yarmouth, age 85, died Friday, Oct. 3, after a long and wonderful life. She was a commander in the Nurse Corps, U.S. Navy. She joined the Navy in 1952. She served in Naval hospitals in Great Lakes, Ill., Yokouska, Japan, San Diego and Newport, R.I., and an unprecedented assignment of eight years at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where she was the charge nurse on the Senior Officers Unit. She cared for many congressman, senators, Supreme Court justices, admirals, generals and foreign diplomats. For this tour of duty, she was awarded numerous commendations and was personally presented the Navy Commendation Medal by the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. She retired from the Navy at Chelsea Naval Hospital in 1972. She move to Cape Cod to live near her family. She was born in 1923 and grew up in Randolph, a daughter of the late Leo and Mary (Kane) Sullivan. Sister of the late James Sullivan, Frances Sullivan, Rita (Sullivan) Doyle and the Rev. Paul Sullivan, she was the adored and much loved "Aunt Irene" to Mary (Doyle) Casavant, Joseph Doyle (U.S. Air Force), Leo Doyle, Mary (Sullivan) Wicks, Kathleen (Sullivan) Money; and other family and friends. A funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Mary's Church, in Randolph, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008, at 11 a.m. Burial will be in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, at a later date. Donations in her memory may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Cape Cod, 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601.