After graduating from Ventura High School this adventuresome woman chose to travel to Alaska to work for an oil company and to Fall River, Massachusetts to work as a bookkeeper.

Her zeal for life took her to New York City in 1943 where she married her high school sweetheart, Joe Sullivan, while he was on leave from the Navy. She and Joe settled here in Ventura after he was out of the Navy.

In the early 1950 Pauleen had the misfortune of being struck with Polio, which left her in a wheel chair for the rest of her life. Never seeing her handicap as a crutch, her enthusiasm and spirit allowed her to continue to travel extensively with Joe. Pictures show Pauleen being carried in her wheel chair as she and Joe visited Tonga, Australia, The Amazon and Indonesia, where Joe passed in 1975.

In the late 1950s they started The Tropical Garden Nursery where they discovered their mutual love for exotic palms. Pauleen did the bookkeeping and Joe did amazing landscaping, some of which is still around Ventura today.

After Joe died Pauleen continued to travel to and eventually bought land in Hawaii. She maintained her enthusiasm for rare and exotic plants and was an active member of the Palm Society. The "Palm Queen" as she was affectionately known, had continued to love and enjoy the little tropical garden oasis she created on Mound Avenue.

Pauleen was an amazingly strong yet gentle woman with a loving caring heart. She will be missed by her family, Gary Sullivan (Carol), and Terry Sullivan (Lorraine), grandchildren, Ashlee Sullivan, Ryan Sullivan and Sevan Sullivan. She also leaves to mourn many Palm Society members as well as scores of friends.

We would like to thank her care givers Angie, Holly, Megan, Carol, and Terry for the excellent and dedicated care over these last few years.

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never the same." - Unknown.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Ventura County Star from Aug. 17 to Aug. 20, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Pauleen Sullivan

19 Entries

Greg Davis

August 26, 2012

I wanted to let you know we're thinking of you. Having lost my mom in January I know what you're feeling. Appreciated seeing you at mom's services & would like to keep in touch.

Larry Matheney

August 25, 2012

Gary & Terry,
I just learned of Pauleen's passing yesterday after returning home from some traveling. My fairly recent contacts with you both have been, for me, reminders of this special lady who I first me in the early 60's. The beautiful gardens that surround the family home and your apartment buildings were huge inspirations for me as to what some careful thought, combined with a willingness to try new things, can do to convert a patch of dirt into a tropical paradise.
As I think of both Pauleen and Joe, I remember with a smile the time that he attached a cluster of coconuts to the top of one of the palms in your front yard. Most likely, one of the reasons for doing it was that it added a subtle element of realism to the tropical look, since coconuts can't be grown in our climate. But I also know that another reason he had was to play a little joke on people. Both of your folks were wonderful people!
May God's peace grow in your hearts in the same special way that His plants have grown so richly in your gardens.

August 25, 2012

Gary & Terry,
I have been traveling and upon my return to Ventura yesterday morning learned of your Mom's passing. Pauleen was, as so many have noted, a truly special person. The several apartment properties around town and the family home represent a beautiful tropical signature from Pauleen and Joe that have inspired me and many others for many years. I fondly remember the time when Joe attached a cluster of coconuts to the top of a palm in his yard so that it appeared that he had achieved the miracle of getting the tree to fruit in our climate. (THAT's my kind of guy). May God's peace flourish in your hearts as beautifully as did her gardens.

Steven (& Stephanie) Suchy

August 24, 2012

I lived where the sun, the moon, and of course the PALMS met in the apartment building on Luna for nearly two years. Though I only met Pauleen once in person, I got to enjoy her choices in landscaping for awhile, and I knew her through that. My bride-to-be and I spent many tranquil hours at a table in the back, just soaking up the surroundings. It never felt as though we were smack in the middle of such a busy section of the city. In fact, in tribute to the Luna location, I dubbed my apartment "Tranquility Base 2". Pauleen was a fair landlady, and she and her sons always treated me so well. I'm very sorry to hear of their loss.

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Egons Teteris

August 24, 2012

I am proud to say I met your mother many years ago. Your father was coaching the baseball team. I remember your mom attending many of those games and also at VHS. I remember how lovingly your dad would transfer her in and out of the car. She was always a very positive friendly person. You didn't see many people in wheel chairs then, but tha didn't stop her. She was quite an inspiration, as was your whole family as you worked through your normal. I realize how special she was now that I am in a wheelchair. My condolences to you on your loss of a very special and accoplished lady.
Egons Teteris (Fresno, Ca)

Hantgin Family

August 24, 2012

So very sorry to hear of your loss.

Linda Lowe

August 21, 2012

Dear Gary and Terry,

I've thought of your Mom many times over the yrs. wondering if she was here it town or in HA. I missed running into her at the store. She was always so very kind and I want you to know she will be remembered with great fondness.

Green Thumb Nursery

August 21, 2012

To the Family of Pauleen,

All of us at Green Thumb have missed seeing her over the past few years. She was a delight when she came into our nursery. She will be greatly missed by those of us who had the opportunity to assist her at our store.

From all of us at Green Thumb Nursery

Bill Sanford

August 20, 2012

Sorry to hear of Pauleens passing. I am glad I was able to meet her thru the Palm Society and was invited to view her Ventura home. Truly a Pioneer in "PalmWorld" and we shall all be the lesser for her passing, yet the greater for what she gave us all, a free spirit, and Passion!

Joe Spittle

August 20, 2012

Terry and family, I never met the palm lady but I know of the influence she had on all of us who love palms.Her gardens and visions live on .It is hard to live in Ventura without passing one or more of her plantings...Thank You Pauleen, you will be missed. Joe Spittle and family

Rick Fore

August 19, 2012

Gary and Family,
We are so sorry to hear about your Mom's passing. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Rick and Karen Fore

Nicholas Simitzi

August 19, 2012

As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.

John D. Rees & Clarissa Dong

August 19, 2012

We remember Pauleen as an exceptional woman, who did not allow anything to stand in the way of her career fulfillment. She was skilled in communicating her passion for palms to others, and was instrumental in introducing little known species into California gardens. We will miss her greatly.

Don and Ruth Downey

August 18, 2012

Gary and Terry, we are so sad to hear of your mothers passing. We have very fond memories of Connie Mack and VHS with Darrell. Our thoughts and prayers are with you

George Van Essen

August 17, 2012

We are sorry for your loss. We remember Pauleen as a friendly and gracious woman. George,Marcele and Corinne

Rob Orth

August 17, 2012

I was blessed to know Pauleen, the "Palm Queen"!, what an amazing spirit she had about her, she even inspired her thousands of plants. She was a jewel of Ventura in so many ways. I will miss hanging out in her tiki house chatting. My condolences to the Sullivan family in her passing.

Tony Makkar

August 17, 2012

I just learned today from Cliff that Mrs. Sullivan had passed away. Cliff told me some about her garden in Hawaii--I had not known about it until he told me. I never met her, but I always admired the amazing palm garden around her home on Mound Avenue, and as a renter of one of her apartments have always enjoyed her legacy of the incredible palm trees that grace her properties. God bless her spirit and her family. It sounds like she lived a full, rich, and wonderful life!

August 15, 2012

I am sorry to learn your mother has passed away. She was indeed a strong woman through the years.

Jim Whitney

August 15, 2012

I'm sorry to learn your mother has passed away. She was indeed a strong woman through all those years of Polio.

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