Search by Name
Search by Name
1916
2016
Katherine D. (Kitty) Sullivan
1916 ~ 2016
Kitty Sullivan, 99, of Caldwell, Idaho, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 29, at a care facility in Middleton of natural causes. Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, June 6, 2016, at Dakan Funeral Chapel in Caldwell. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Caldwell.
Kitty was born on October 21, 1916 in Wibaux, Montana. Another name has been subtracted from the list of early day pioneer homesteaders with the loss of Kitty, the third of six children born to John and Susan Lukianchuck that migrated during the homestead era from Austria and the Ukraine. She left Montana at the age of 17, traveling to Los Angeles and began employment in a Catholic hospital. Her training by Catholic nuns provided her a strong work ethic and a passion for health care, spanning a 50-year career in the nursing field. She would continue employment as a nurse until the beginning of WWII. At this point, she left nursing and worked at a military air base on the flight line. During this time, she met Warren "Slim" Sullivan, who was a pilot in the Army Air Corp. They married in 1945 and moved to Harlowton, Montana, where her husband started a crop dusting and flight school while resuming her career in nursing at the local hospital. Kitty had a son, Lloyd, by a previous marriage, and together Slim and Kitty had two children, Marlene and Robert. In 1960, the Sullivan family moved to Caldwell, Idaho, where Slim continued his career as a pilot and Kitty worked at the medical clinic as a nurse for Dr. Robert Jensen until her retirement. She stayed very active in retirement, and at the age of 90 became a volunteer at the Caldwell Hospital with the task of "walking the floors," visiting and bringing a smile to the patients' faces. She had a passion for health care and assisting those in need.
Kitty had a beautiful, outgoing personality, a bit of a prankster with a quick wit. Her laugh was infectious and often she was the "entertainer" in a crowd. She had a strong will and cared deeply for those she loved. She faced all of life's trials with courage and strength. She instilled in us the qualities of positive thinking and faith in one's dream. With little education herself, she valued the importance of higher education and provided financial assistance for family to achieve that success. She would extend the same offer of support to others seriously seeking further education.
She loved flowers and gardening; a passion which kept her busy until her mid 90's. She was most in her element when playing in the dirt. Other interests included needlepoint, of which she had many beautiful pictures that are treasures for the family. She was also an antique collector, rock hound, and especially loved American Indian culture and collecting those artifacts.
The family would like to thank all the special care givers that provided kind, loving support during her illness at Autumn Wind, Life Care Therapy, Cottages of Middleton, Heart and Home Hospice, and night-sitter, Whitney.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, sisters, and her husband. She is survived by her daughter, Marlene (Bill) Wentz, son Robert (Maha) Sullivan, and son, Lloyd Turner. Her family includes five grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
We say goodbye to our dear Kitty, but in body only; her spirit will always live in each of us for the rest of our lives. May you rest in peace always and forever.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by The Idaho Statesman.
0 Entries
Be the first to post a memory or condolences.
Funeral services provided by:
Dakan Funeral Chapel - Caldwell504 South Kimball Avenue, Caldwell, ID 83605
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read moreWhat kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read moreWe'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreIf you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read moreLegacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreThey're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read more