Rev. Thomas L. Sullivan, CSV, died at Resurrection Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Park Ridge, IL, on Monday, September 22, 1997. Father Sullivan was 94 years old and had celebrated his 75th anniversary of religious profession as a Viatorian on August 15th of that year.
A native of Irwin, Illinois, Tom Sullivan graduated from St. Viator Academy in 1921 and immediately entered the Viatorian Novitiate. On August 15, 1922, he professed his first vows in Chamberlain, South Dakota. He graduated from St. Viator College and attended the Viatorian Seminary from 1927 to 1932 when he was ordained on February 22, 1932, in Springfield, Illinois, by Bishop James Griffin. Father Sullivan’s early years of ministry included teaching at St. Viator Academy, St. Viator College, the Viatorian Seminary in Washington, Cathedral Boys High School, St. Thomas Vocational School and St. Mary High School in Salem, South Dakota. In 1949 he entered a new ministry of hospital chaplaincy when he ministered at St. Luke’s Hospital in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and at Kankakee State Hospital. From 1960 to 1971 he was an Associate Pastor at St. Patrick Parish in Kankakee. Subsequently, he served as chaplain at Elmhurst Hospital, Northwest Community Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur and Father Sullivan completed his active ministry when he served as an Associate Pastor at St. Peter and Paul Church in Springfield from 1977 to 1982. Father Sullivan had been retired since 1982 and in most recent years had been in residence at Resurrection Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Visitation was held in the Chapel of the Province Center on Friday, September 26, 1997 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial took place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 26, 1997 in the Chapel at the Province Center. Burial was in the Community Plot at Queen of Heaven Cemetery following the Mass.
Father Sullivan was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters Frances, Laura May and Anna. He is survived by his brother, Mr. Joseph Sullivan from Irwin, Illinois.
Taken from letter to the Viatorian Community, September 23, 1997, from the Provincial, Rev. Robert M. Egan, CSV