Anna Grace Sullivan

Anna G. Sullivan, age 86, of Falls Church, VA passed away November 15, 2016. Anna was born in Washington, PA on April 15, 1930, the daughter of (Giuseppe) Joseph Nicolella, Sr. and Catherine Piacenza Nicolella. Anna graduated from Washington State High School in 1947 and headed to Washington, DC where she worked for two years at the FBI. There she met her soul mate Mark, married in 1952 and raised six daughters. She returned to the federal government as an employee of the CIA where she retired after 17 years of service.

Anna was a dedicated and long-time member of St. James Catholic Church. Anna was devoted to her family and was always working toward arranging the next family gathering. She had great compassion for the elderly, making baskets for the residents at Winter Hill and inviting those who were alone to holiday dinners. Anna loved music and dancing, especially the jitterbug. She was an avid gardener and being outside was her most favorite pastime. Anna was preceded in death by Mark Sullivan, her loving husband of 63 years, her parents Joseph and Catherine Nicolella, her brothers Joseph Nicolella, Jr. and John “Hump” Nicolella.

She is survived by her daughters, Patricia Ann Finein, Susan Peyton, Jeanne Churchwell (George), Kathleen Sullivan, Cecilia Holman (Rodger), and Marianne Loan (Bill); ten grandchildren: Tim, Lindsay, Stephanie, Andy, Christine, Shane, Samantha, Jackie, Alison and Nicholas; nine great-grandchildren: Carter, Michael, Patrick, Dean, Cameron, Anthony, Audrey, Eleanor and Owen. Anna is also survived by her sister Cathy Riggle of Washington, PA and her nieces and nephews Richie, John, Dan, Margaret, Bill, Anne, Mary, Therese, Paul, Regina, and Liz.

The family will receive friends at Murphy Funeral Home, 1102 W. Broad St., Falls Church on Thursday, November 17, 2016 from 4pm to 6pm. A Mass of a Christian Burial will be held at St. James Catholic Church on Friday, November 18, 2016 at 1pm with burial services to follow at Fairfax Memorial Park.