Mary E Sullivan

Mary Elizabeth Sullivan (Gesicki), 75, passed away peacefully on October 17th, 2025, at her home in Dover, NJ. Born on April 27, 1950, in Morristown, NJ, to the late Alfred and Louise (Camel) Gesicki, Mary was beloved by all who knew her. Even those who met her briefly enjoyed her warm demeanor, bright smile, and contagious laugh. Mary resided in Dover her entire life, where she raised her two cherished children, whom she centered her life around. Though she was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, cousin and mother, Mary's favorite role was that of grandma to her two grandchildren, Luke and Leah.
Mary, known to those closest to her as Baba, was born into a supportive, tight-knit family, including cousins who became some of her best friends. Despite Mary's language barriers due to her deafness, she forged relationships easily and maintained lifelong friends. Her language was universal and expressed through her smile, her eyes, and her genuine laughter. When she became a mom to Christine and Jeffrey, she devoted herself fully to raising them. Along with Christine's husband, Matthew, they made an excellent team and continued to be a supportive, tight-knit unit until the day she passed.
Mary graduated from Dover High School in 1968; this was an extraordinary accomplishment, as she completed schoolwork with non-deaf students and teachers. She went on to work at Lake Drive School in Mountain Lakes, NJ, as a teacher's assistant for deaf and hard of hearing children; though the work was challenging, Mary found levity and laughter with her fun-loving colleagues who became friends. At Lake Drive School, as well as in the classrooms of her nieces and nephews, Mary gave her time to share her lived experience, sign language development, and big heart to help and educate many children.
Mary loved soaking up the sun at the family home in Ortley Beach, NJ, and making memories on the countless family trips to Disney World. Additionally, some of her favorite memories were created on European trips with her brother, his wife, and their dear friends. She had an excellent memory and could share vivid details about her life well-lived. Mary was an avid baker and showed her love through brimming cookie tins and fresh-made flan. She never shied away from a harmless prank and enjoyed deep belly-laughs with her family and friends.
Mary will be remembered laughing, with a smile on her face. She is survived by her adoring children, Christine Bezaire and her husband Matthew and their children Luke and Leah, of Newark, DE, as well as her devoted son Jeffrey, of Dover, NJ; her sister, Elaine Gesicki-Desjadon, of Randolph, NJ, and her brother, Donald Gesicki and his wife Diane McKernan, of Barnegat, NJ; as well as her nieces, nephews, and beloved cousins.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at Tuttle Funeral Home in Randolph, NJ, from 4:00 pm - 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Dover, NJ, at 10:00 am. Interment to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in her memory be made to Hands & Voices, in service of families with children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, https://www.handsandvoices.org/.