Rita Arlene Sullivan

Rita Arlene LaCroix Sullivan, 94 years of age, went home to be with Jesus on Monday, February 23, 2015. Rita was born in Lynn, Massachusetts on October 2, 1920 to Emil (Edward) Joseph LaCroix and Ruth Magdalene (Mayhew) LaCroix. She was the second of their four daughters. Rita married the love of her life, John Thomas Sullivan, on October 3, 1942. Her Johnny was drafted into the Army and left to begin his service to his country a few weeks after their wedding. During that time Rita moved with her parents and two younger sisters to Riverside, California, where her older sister and brother-in-law were residing. When John was discharged from the service in January 1946, he came to California to pick up his bride intending to return to their home in Lynn. However, realizing that the southern California weather was far more pleasant than that of the Boston area, they put down roots in Riverside where they lived the rest of their lives.

Rita enjoyed a busy family life, raising their seven children and being involved in church and community organizations. She was a bowler, a golfer and an avid bridge player. Rita was also an artist who painted landscapes and seascapes in oil and acrylic for over 50 years. She painted beautiful ceramic pieces, crocheted many baby blankets and created even more fleece blankets. She also engaged in toile painting, cake and cooking decorating, calligraphy and so much more. Rita finally put her paints and brushes away for the last time shortly after her 92nd birthday. Rita was also a seasoned traveler, having visited Ireland (her last trip with John), the Caribbean, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Israel, Canada, Rome, Alaska and Hawaii.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband, John, her grandson, TJ Sullivan, and her sister, Doris Ventura. She is survived by her children, Jack Sullivan of Nashville, TN, Colleen (Tim) Foster of Fountain Valley, CA, Dan (Teressa) Sullivan of Holladay, TN, Tim (Debi) Sullivan of League City, TX, Sharon (Dennis) Richardson of Riverside, CA, Patty (Mike) Thacker of Buford, GA, and Mark Sullivan of Costa Mesa, CA; grandchildren, Sean Sullivan, Amanda (Zac) Sullivan Wolfe, Casey (Jay) Sullivan Jackson, Andy (Jamey) Foster, Jeremy (Christi) Foster, Glendon (Tracy) Foster, Paula (Shawn) Sullivan McIntosh, Ryan Sullivan, Cory (Eric) Sullivan, Brendan Sullivan, Jeffery (Annette) Richardson, Alissa (Saleem) Richardson Pereira, Emily (Chris) Richardson Pineiro, Trisha Thacker McCance, Jonathan (Natasha) Thacker, Jessica Thacker, Patrick Thacker. Rita is also survived by 26 great-grandchildren, her two younger sisters, Mary Cappelen of Rio Rancho, NM and Jean Kopp of Riverside, CA, her sister-in-law, Catherine (Sullivan) Bartlett, of Beverly, MA and numerous nieces and nephews. From her vantage point in heaven, Rita will be watching carefully over the next few weeks for the birth of two more great-grandchildren – twin boys!

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at 12 Noon with viewing that same morning from 10 AM to 12 Noon at Acheson & Graham Garden of Prayer Mortuary in Riverside with internment at Riverside National Cemetery at 2 PM. If you would like to honor Rita in some way, donations to the Alzheimer’s Association of Southern CA (www.alz.org/socal/) or the Down Syndrome Association of Orange County (www.dsaoc.org) would be welcomed.