Happy Birthday, Matt!

Dear Hearts,

October 30th is the birthday of Matthew Wiley Sullivan, Sr.: father of Matty, Henry and Georgia; grandfather of Averee; son of Big Sully and Mary Claire; brother of Jim, Mary Fran, John, Mike, Anne, Jerry, Margy and Patty; uncle, nephew, cousin and friend to lots more folks.

Matt is enjoying his return to acting and recently worked on a small movie for the American Film Institute filmed at the beautiful Big Sky Movie Ranch north of LA. He continues to work a bit in education by offering his services as a private tutor to local students. His days are filled out with playing guitar, cooking and growing an extensive garden, as well as visiting with family. He loves the chance to hang out with Henry and Georgia in San Diego.

Happy Birthday, Matt, and may you have 60 more healthy ones, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love,
Patty

Happy Birthday, Elianah!

Dear Hearts,

October 26th is the birthday of Elianah Merwin: daughter of Joe and Sondra; granddaughter of Mary Fran and Gary; cousin of Ava, Henry, Francesca and Inez, sister, niece and friend to many more.

Elianah is growing up to be a beautiful, smart and talented young lady. Outside of school--where she is receiving almost all A's on her report card--she has shifted her athletic pursuits from gymnastics to fencing. Eli reports that it's "not that hard!" Likewise, she has discovered a new musical instrument with the saxophone! Her artistry is diverse, as Elianah enjoys drawing and us currently redecorating her bedroom.

Anne found a very fun waterpark companion in Eli on their last visit, and Auntie Anne was amazed at how this brave young woman leapt down "the scariest waterpark slide I've ever seen," not just once, but three times! It's called the Hydro Halfpipe and is 35 feet high with a very steep drop.

When she sets her mind to it, she will overcome whatever challenge is placed in her path. Yet, with all that strength, Elianah continues to be a bountiful source of kindness and beauty to the world. And her sense of humor is divine!

Happy Birthday, sweet Eli, and may you have 113 more healthy ones, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love,
Patty

Happy Birthday, Anna!

Dear Hearts,

October 23rd is the birthday of Anna Margaret Herrington: daughter of Ella and Phillip Herrington; sister to Dee Dee, Joseph, John, Ruth, James, Agnes and Rose; granddaughter of Bob and Darlene and Eddie and Sylvia; cousin, niece and friend to dozens more lucky people. Her name brings thoughts of two wonderful and important people in our family--Aunt Margaret and Aunt Anna Rita, aka The Aunties. 

Anna is a seven-year-old toehead now and is well into her first grade year at St. Gregory. I'm sure she is a fine example to her baby sister and spark of joy for everyone she meets.

Happy birthday, sweet girl. May you have 118 more healthy ones, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love,
Patty

Happy Birthday, Phillip!

Dear Hearts,

October 18th is the birthday of Phillip Andrew Herrington: son of Eddie and Sylvia; brother of Joseph, Audrey and James; husband of Ella; father of Dee Dee, Joseph, John, Ruth, James, Anna, Agnes and Rose; in-law, nephew, uncle, cousin and friend to so many more.

Teaching Theater Arts for beginning, intermediate and advanced students for the Glendale Union High School District, Phillip is also directs the plays and musicals each year. As a thespian, he is a member of a several theater groups with a long list of credits.

But most important is Phillip as a husband and father. He is smitten with his Ella, who he calls his favorite person, and all eight of their kids are the focus and pride of his mind and heart.

Happy Birthday, Phillip, and may you have 81 more healthy ones, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Anticipation of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love,
Patty

Happy Birthday, Brynn!

Dear Hearts,

October 16th is the birthday of Brynn Noelle Sullivan: daughter of Tim and Maureen; sister of Andrew; granddaughter of Bob and Darlene and Andrew and Phyllis; niece, cousin and friend to many more. Brynn is a beautiful blend of her mother and father--beautiful, smart, kind and funny!

She has compeletd her senior year at Huntington Beach High School and has been enduring some pretty difficult health challenges lately. Please keep her in your prayers. Despite that, Brynn shows a stunningly beautiful smile and positive spirit.

And if you ever want to talk college football, Brynn is your girl!

Happy Birthday sweetheart, and may you have 106 more healthy ones, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love,
Patty

Happy Birthday, Beatrice!

Dear Hearts,

October 14th is the birthday of Beatrice Adelaide Sullivan: daughter of Mick and Mary; sister to Oscar and Georgia; granddaughter to Nancy Nau Sullivan, Jim and Bitsy and George and Eleanor Reid; niece, cousin and friend to scores more lucky folks.

Beatrice swims on a few different teams, including the Decatur Family YMCA team. She competes in the 500Y freestyle, 100Y backstroke and 100Y breaststroke. She loves to read and is a very intelligent girl. She is strong and dainty at the same time and brings lots of joy to her whole family.

Happy birthday, Little Bea, and may you have 113 more healthy ones, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love,
Patty

Happy Birthday, Ivar!

Dear Hearts,

October 13th is the birthday of Ivar James Sullivan: son of John and Mercy; grandson of Jim and Erin and Skip and Donna; great grandson of Darlene and Bob; and nephew to scores of folks. Ivar is due to become a big brother very soon!

His first trip around the sun has been wonderful, despite being born in the middle of a global pandemic. His smile lights up the world and he has happily discovered chicken nuggets.

Happy birthday tiny boy, and may you have 124 more healthy ones. by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love, Patty

Happy Birthday, Russ!

Dear Hearts,

October 12th is the birthday of Russ Brogdon: son-in-law of Whitey and Signe; husband of Dagne; father of Matthew and Nathaniel; in-law, cousin and friend to many more.

Russ is a Georgia man who has a fine reputation, takes good care of Dagne's beautiful heart and has earned the respect of Whitey. He is also a dedicated Georgia Bulldog fan who also enjoys golf and travel with his family. 

Happy Birthday, Russ, and may you have 82 more healthy ones by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love,
Patty

God Bless Maurice Maloney

Dear Hearts,

October 11th is the 135th anniversary of the birth of Maurice Moloney, brother of Kate Sheehan (Boom's mom who was called Nanny by Mary Claire and Helen). Maurice was born October 11, 1878.

When Jim was in Ireland in 1992, found the family farm there in Clare and visited with Nicholas FitzPatrick, Maurice's neighbor and oldest friend. Nicholas almost fainted when Jim got out of the car--he thought it was Maurice himself who had come back from the grave! Nicholas said, "You are the dead spit of Maurice. If you'd had a walking stick in your hand, I would have had a heart attack." Maurice died in his nineties in the 1970s.

Happy Birthday, Uncle Maurice. God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love,
Patty

God Bless Mary Fran

Dear Hearts,

October 11th is the 11th anniversary of the passing of Mary Fran Merwin: daughter of Big Sully and Mary Claire; sister of Jim, John, Mike, Matt, Anne, Jerry, Margaret and Patty; wife of Gary Merwin; mother of Joe, Katie, Luke and Maggie; grandmother to Ava, Henry, Elianah, Francesca and Inez; granddaughter, sister-in-law, cousin, aunt, niece and friend to so many more lucky folks.

She was larger than life in every way--so loving, smart, funny, professional, compassionate and kind. Sixteen years older than me, I had the joy and amazement of watching her get ready for dates--helping her choose what earrings to wear, smelling the Jean Nate perfume, getting to secretly try her lipstick.

In every phase of her life she amazed us all--as a college student, so independent and successful; as a young wife, so loving and creative; as a mother, so wise and nurturing; as a teacher and ultimately the principal of the largest high school in Wisconsin, so compassionate and professional. We are all better people to have known and loved her, and I pray we can all live up to her example.

We sure do miss you MF. Keep sending your messages and watching over us.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love, Patty

Happy Birthday, Brian!

Dear Hearts,

October 11th is the birthday of Brian Cusick: son of Budd and June; brother of Katherine, Linda, Debra and Bitsy; brother-in-law; uncle, cousin and friend to many more. Everyone calls him Budd.

Budd is the owner of Budd Autobody, the shop his dad opened in 1946 in Hammond, Indiana. He has ushered the shop into the 21st century beautifully and developed a state-of-the-art facility. It's a lot different from when he, at age five, began working with his dad, separating screws, washers and nuts into boxes. He was 10 when he painted his first car for a neighbor. He has truly made a name for himself as an honest and reputable business man in the Calumet Region.

While his business has an up-to-date and relevant Facebook page, Brian has eluded me in my hunt for a photograph of him. So I've included here pictures of the shop. It is one of the best-looking auto shops I've ever seen! (Let this be a lesson to the rest of you, if you don't send me updated info and photos, I must depend on the internet's resources.)

Happy Birthday Brian, and may you have 62 more healthy ones by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love,
Patty

Happy Birthday, Aunt Darlene!

Dear Hearts,

October 10th is the birthday of our beloved Sullivan matriarch, mother, mother-in-law, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother--Darlene Shajin Silva Sullivan: Wife of Uncle Bob; mother (and mother-in-law) of John, Jim and Erin, Bobby and Nicole, Paul and Stephanie, Mike and Shelly, Tim and Maureen, Sister John Mary, Margaret and Paul Lewis, Ella and Phillip Herrington, Peter and Melody; aunt of the nine children of Big Sully and many more on the Silva side; grandmother of about 50 Sullivans, Lewises and Herringtons; great grandmother to two, and friend and mentor  to so many more.

Aunt Darlene has always been Uncle Bob's beloved other half--strong and loving, faithful and smart. She is the beating heart of the family, an engine of love and courage. Living proof of this is the love and devotion shown by her nine living children. Whether they live far or near--Vancouver, British Columbia or right next door--each one and their families are in almost constant contact with Aunt Darlene, seeking her advice, discussing the world's challenges or laughing about the various antics of the clan.

Happy birthday, Aunt Darlene, and may you have 42 more healthy ones, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love,
Patty

Happy Birthday, Kameron!

Dear Hearts,

October 6th is the birthday of Kameron Hanjani: son of Ali and Julie; brother of Shyhla and Leila; husband of Maggie; father of Francesca and Inez; in-law, uncle, cousin, nephew and friend to many more.

Spending time with Kam is always so nice as he is as down-to-earth and friendly as they come. Whether the topic is about his Vikings, parenting little girls, brewing beer, fishing or solving engineering challenges, Kam always brings brains and a pleasant vibe to the conversation.

He continues his work as an experienced draftsman and serves as a Project Designer at Enclos, a specialty contractor that builds high performance curtainwall and facade systems. 

Happy Birthday, Kam, and may you have 88 more healthy ones, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love,
Patty

Happy Birthday, Lizzy!

Dear Hearts,

October 5th is the birthday of Elizabeth Glick Flores: daughter of Margaret and Brian; sister of Daniel and Amanda; wife of Randy; mama of Levi, Amos and Maggie; in-law, niece, cousin and friend to many more.

Professionally, Lizzy has taken on new challenges, working full time from home as an education specialist for Great Minds, a company that develops curriculum and instructional materials in various subjects. 

She and Randy are in the thick of a major house renovation right now, and with three little ones, we all know that is a challenging endeavor. It's fun to anticipate how Lizzy will transform Randy's impressive work (framing, flooring, cabinetry, etc.) into a beautiful, warm space in the coming months.

Happy birthday, Lizzy, and may you have 88 more healthy ones, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Aspiration.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love,
Patty

Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad

Dear Hearts,

Seventy three years ago today, James Patrick Sullivan and Mary Claire Wiley were married at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on the Southside of Chicago. It was the Feast of St. Francis. They lived on earth as husband and wife for almost 43 years, and we pray they are in wedded bliss in heaven, along with their wedding party and families.

God bless us, and save us and keep us from harm.

Love,
Patty

Happy Birthday, Dee Dee!

Dear Hearts,

Dee Dee, second from right, joined family
members in running an event in the
Cowtown Marathon in Fort Worth

October 2nd is the birthday of Darlene Sylvia Herrington: daughter of Phillip and Ella Herrington; sister of Joseph, John, Ruth, James, Ann, Agnes and Rose. She is the granddaughter of Eddie and Sylvia, Bob and her namesake, Darlene. Her family calls her DeeDee.

She has started her junior year at St. Mary's and goes to school with several cousins and her brother Joey. Indeed, she is playing on the JV Volleyball team this year with Emma and Mia!  Dee Dee has lived the life of a big sister with grace and I'm sure is a big help to her parents. She looks incredibly natural and competent when holding an infant.

Happy birthday, Dee Dee, and may you have 110 more healthy ones, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and keep us and save us from harm.

Love, Patty