Marilyn Sullivan's Obituary
Marilyn Sullivan: June 6, 1934--September 1, 2014
Marilyn Sullivan was born Marilyn Laurene Miller in the city of Detroit, Michigan and grew up in town of Trenton, in the “down river” region of the Detroit River. With a close proximity to Canada’s Ontario province, Marilyn’s mother, Peg Miller was Canadian and her father, Maurice, an American physician. In many ways Marilyn was a true product of this region as she felt just as home in Goderich as she did Trenton.
Marilyn was the eldest of three siblings and is survived by her brother, Fred Miller of Lake Villa, IL, and sister, Peggy Cook of Goderich, Ontario.
Marilyn grew up in the wartime culture of her generation which fostered in her an abiding, life-long patriotism and love of the United States and its founding ideals. She met and married the love of her life, Donnell Sullivan, in Trenton while she was in nursing school. Upon graduating nursing school Marilyn applied to become a Stewardess during a time when such jobs required being a nurse. Six months into her stewardess schooling, Donnell proposed to her and Marilyn was fond of saying, with a twinkle in her eye, that she had known all along that if he was serious he wouldn’t let her be a stewardess for long because the role would give her too many opportunities to meet eligible bachelors.
Donnell and Marilyn’s honeymoon consisted of their running a refurbished Navy yacht from Trenton to New York and down the intra-coastal waterway to Miami where Donnell sold marine engines and Marilyn worked at Mercy hospital in Miami. They lived on the “old navy boat” in Biscayne Bay and enjoyed Miami during its exotic, art deco golden age in the 1950’s. Much of their free time was spent crossing the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas or cruising the Florida Keys.
Later, Don and Marilyn lived in Orlando where their first son, Donnell was born in 1960 and then Tampa where their second, Brian was born in 1962. It was also around this time that Don and Marilyn both committed their lives to Christ and lived as born again Christians for the rest of their lives. Together they devoted countless hours to their churches in every capacity imaginable. Both Don and Marilyn said at various points that their work with First Baptist of Leesburg’s homeless mission, as nurse and counselor, was one of the most satisfying periods of their lives.
Shortly after the birth of her second son Marilyn became a little home sick and, wanting to raise her children around their extended family still living in the greater Detroit area, the family moved back to Trenton for a few years. But Marilyn was married to her “wild Irishman” and his peripatetic, entrepreneurial pursuits were to take the family from Trenton, to Minnesota, then Ohio and, finally back to Florida. Along the way Marilyn practiced nursing whenever possible and did so up until her 70’s.
In 1980 the family, with Donnell now out of college and living in Ohio, moved to Mt. Dora Florida where Brian finished high school. Don and Marilyn settled in Lake County, moving only twice over the next 30 years and one of those was to the house next door because it had a better view of the canal and the ever evolving “marina” of boats owned by them or docked there by friends for family.
Boating was a big part of Marilyn’s life and, although it was never clear whether she loved it or just loved a man who loved it, it did not matter. She loved the water and loved looking at it every day. More than once she said that she wanted to pass away in the family room while looking at the water in the canal from the large picture window. She received her wish it seems, having passed away just outside this room, in her lawn chair by the canal. She was found sitting calmly, chin down on her chest—seemingly haven fallen asleep as peacefully as any of us might wish.
Her manner of passing was much like her manner of living. Where Donnell was hard she was soft. If he was angry she was calm. She was a great encourager to her sons and inspired and supported their activities in music, sports, writing, reading and travel. Marilyn loved nothing more than a good book and was a voracious reader of history, fiction, and biography. She loved classic films and the swing music of wartime big bands. She was always proud of her sons, no matter what they did even when what they were doing was not much to be proud of.
Like all mother’s her loss is unique and hard for her children. Knowing that she is with her Lord and her wild Irishman gives her family comfort. Marilyn Sullivan lived a noble and purposeful life. She has countless dear friends who always looked forward to her uplifting manner and lively sprit to cheer a room. She will be greatly missed by her sons; daughters-in-law, Belinda and Dena; brother, sister, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers and sisters in-law and four grandchildren: Safa, Elle, Katherine and Sara.
The family will receive friends at the First Baptist Church of Tavares on Saturday, September 6, 2014 from 9 AM to 10 AM. A Celebration of Life will follow at 10 AM. Entombment will take place at Ft. Myers Memorial Gardens, Ft. Myers, FL. Arrangements have been entrusted to Steverson, Hamlin & Hilbish Funerals and Cremations, 226 East Burleigh Blvd., Tavares, FL 32778. Online condolences and memories can be shared at www.steversonhamlinhilbish.com.
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