Sue Cullen

Born June 25, 1954 in North Plainfield, New Jersey, to Walter and Mildred Lakusta, Sue Cullen passed away February 18, 2010, surrounded by family and friends. Sue moved with her family from New Jersey to Charlotte, North Carolina. She graduated from East Mecklenburg High School in 1972, having served as Senior Class President. Sue and husband, John, met later that same year and attended Furman University together. Travel in Europe while attending the University of London, Birkbeck College sparked their passion for travel that led to a life of mutual wanderlust. They married following their return from international study on the Fourth of July weekend in 1975. Two beautiful, remarkable daughters were born to their union: Christie Cullen Barany and Lauren Cullen Cooley. Business interests led Sue and John from the Carolinas to Austin, Texas. In Austin, they were blessed to see the marriages of both daughters and to welcome two amazing son-in-laws. Inspired by the strength of their parents' union, both Christie and Lauren also married on Fourth of July weekends. With the births of her four Grandchildren, Sue embraced her cherished role as "Baba". Professionally, Sue was dedicated to helping and inspiring others to reach their full potential. She served as President of the Texas Career Development Association and was a member of the Career Planning and Adult Development Network; National Career Development Association; Texas Counseling Association (where she initiated and successfully negotiated the one-term passage of the Texas House Bill governing the counseling industry); Society for Industrial & Organizational Psychology; World Future Society eWomen Network; and Greater Austin Chapter of the International Coach Federation. She was also a commissioned leader/trainer in the Stephen Ministry, a nondenominational lay caregiving ministry. Despite her many accolades and distinctions, her counseling of individuals best defined Sue's gifts and will be her professional legacy. Survivors include mother, Mildred; husband, John; daughter, Christie and husband Jason, and their daughters Bella and Riley; daughter, Lauren and husband Paul, and their sons Cullen and Chase; brother Mike Lakusta and sister Pat Bianco both of Flower Mound, Texas, and sister Bobbie Brown of St Charles, Illinois. Arrangements are being handled by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 North Lamar, Austin (512) 452-8811, where a family visitation will take place on Saturday, February 20th from 4 to 6 p.m. A service celebrating Sue's life will be held at Tarrytown United Methodist Church, 2601 Exposition Blvd., Austin, Texas, on Sunday, February 21st, at 3 p.m. To perpetuate her life passion of helping people discover their mission in life, memorial gifts can be made to Furman University's Susan L. Cullen Center for Vocational Reflection. Gifts can be made through Wayne King, Donor Relations, Furman University, 3300 Poinsett Highway, Greenville, SC 29613.