Susan Sullivan

Susan Lee Sullivan, a beacon of love and dedication, passed away peacefully on November 20, 2025, at her home in Santa Ana, California. Born on April 8, 1943, in Newport, Rhode Island, Susan's life was a remarkable journey of compassion, service, and enduring love.
Susan's early years were marked by frequent moves due to her father's Navy career, which allowed her to experience life in Rhode Island, Hawaii, and Japan. Despite the challenges of constant change, Susan thrived, eventually settling in Santa Ana, California, where she graduated from Santa Ana High School. It was during her junior high years that she met a boy by the name of Harold "Sully" Sullivan. Although these two could be described as polar opposites, an instant attraction could not be denied. Susan and Sully reconnected in high school while working at St. Joseph Hospital, she in the diet kitchen and Sully as a janitor, began dating, and four years later they married in 1967 at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church in Tustin. Their nearly 60 years of marriage were a testament to their unwavering commitment and love for each other.
Susan's passion for helping others led her to pursue a career in nursing. She earned her Bachelor's degree from Cal State LA and followed with a Master's in Nursing from Loma Linda University. Her work as a Nursing Supervisor in the Psychiatric Department at Hoag Hospital, as the Director of the AIDS/HIV Task Force for The American Red Cross, and as a Senior Public Health Nurse for Orange County Health Care Agency spanned over five decades and touched countless lives.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Susan was an avid gardener, with a particular fondness for roses and gourds. Her creative spirit found an outlet in crafting gourd birdhouses and decorations, and her leadership abilities shone through as she served as the President of the California Gourd Society. But above all, Susan's heart belonged to her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grammy, and great-grammy. She is survived by her loving husband Harold, her son Patrick Sullivan, daughter Rebecca Churnside, son-in-law Joesph Churnside, her grandchildren Alexander (and his wife Laura Leigh), Cassandra, and Benjamin, and her great-grandchildren Isla James and Sullivan Churnside.
Although she was always on the forefront of the working world, Susan relished her role as mother. She was an avid sports fan and learned to score keep by default early on when Becky began playing softball. The family would sit around the dinner table pouring over the stats after each game. And Friday nights she could be found wrapped up in blankets on the Newport Pier baiting fish hooks with Patrick by her side. Susan's support for her grandchildren was undeniably unwavering, as she became their number one fan, attending and cheering for ORCA and Villa Park High School, US Air Force Academy, Stanford, Harvard, and University of Michigan Water Polo Teams, with which her grandchildren were affiliated.
Known for her wicked intelligence, creativity, and loving nature, Susan was also a passionate political advocate, always championing the underdog with unwavering conviction. Her advocacy work included a strong push for the establishment of a National Nurse Position to work alongside the Surgeon General, demonstrating her commitment to the betterment of public health. She lived her life with purpose and grace, leaving behind a legacy that will be cherished and remembered by all who knew her.
Susan Lee Sullivan's life was one of profound impact and enduring love, and her memory will continue to inspire and guide her family and the many lives she touched. Grammy's spirit, like the roses she so lovingly tended, will remain vibrant and beautiful in the hearts of those she leaves behind.