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!

Having moved to Southern California just a few years ago, Brynn took no time at all to make friends, get a job and get to know her new stomping grounds by cruising around in her truck. She is a senior in 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 107 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

Welcome Ivar James!

Dear Hearts,

October 13, 2020, we welcomed to the world Ivar James Sullivan: son of John and Mercy Sullivan; granddaughter of Jim and Erin Sullivan and Skip and Donna Gjolberg. Fitting of his Old Norse name, Ivar is a trailblazer as Darlene and Bob's first great grandchild!

Ivar weighed 7 lbs., 2 oz.,is 19.4 inches long and he and momma are both doing very well. Deo Gratias!

Welcome to the world tiny boy, and may you have 125 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,

Beatrice and Oscar, 2019

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 team at the Decatur Family YMCA, competing in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. 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 114 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 83 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 134th 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 10th 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,

Patrice Helen (said with a French accent, like MF would've sounded)

Happy Birthday, Budd!

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 63 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