Obituary

Barbara H. Sullivan

Mon, 09/28/2020 - 9:45am

Barbara Helen (Stahl) Sullivan, 96, passed away peacefully on Sept. 17, 2020 at her home in Damariscotta, Maine. She was blessed to have her family with her. She was preceded in her death by her husband Kenneth L. Sullivan after 73 years of marriage.

First and foremost, Barbara was a wonderful wife and mother to four children, Geoffrey Leigh Sullivan, Peter Emery Sullivan, Andrew Varney Sullivan and Amy Wright Sullivan Olszewski, and grandmother to 10 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Barbara was born in Roslindale, Massachusetts on Oct. 24, 1923, the daughter of John A. H. and Helen Stahl of Roslindale. She graduated from Bouve Boston School of Physical Education in June, 1946 and worked as the director of programming at the YWCA in Newburyport, Massachusetts. She married Kenneth L. Sullivan of Roslindale on April 12, 1947 and settled in Roslindale, and later Melrose, Massachusetts.

She volunteered as a den mother and Girl Scout leader as well as numerous church, social, and community service organizations throughout her life. Barbara loved to cook for family and friends.

In later years she and Kenneth enjoyed traveling and spent a year abroad with Kenneth in North Africa. Barbara worked for many years as a volunteer with Planned Parenthood. She loved listening to National Public Radio, and cherished the Boston and St. Louis symphony orchestras. She had a passion for sewing, a talent handed down from her mother and father, and then to her daughter Amy. She learned to drive at age 44 after the family moved to St. Louis. From there they moved to Lakeland, Florida, and eventually retired to the family home in Wiscasset, Maine. where she spent many hours as a volunteer at the Wiscasset Library.

The Sullivan family would like to thank Barbara’s caregivers Steffney, Katie, Jaime, Teresa and Nancy as well as the whole staff at Schooner Cove. Special thanks also to Dr. Worthing, the Hospice of Maine, and for the many years of support and worship at the 1st Congregational Church of Wiscasset.

A private family celebration of Barbara’s life will be held at a later date due to current COVID-19 restrictions. Barbara’s wishes were for her friends and family to make a donation to their favorite charity in her honor.