Sheila Frances Cronin Sullivan

Sheila Frances Sullivan passed away peacefully on Monday, May 25th, 2026. She was born on December 16th, 1936, in Brookline, MA, and was predeceased by her infant son Christoper, parents Betty and Vincent Cronin, and brother David Cronin.

She was a proud graduate of Brookline High School. Her active spirit began at an early age as a baton twirler, and her entrepreneurial energy led her to create the Sheila Cronin School of Baton. She also served as head majorette at Brookline High School. She went on to attend Lesley College in Cambridge Mass, during which time she met her husband of 64 years, Bill Sullivan, a law student at Harvard.

She started her career as a flight attendant for TWA, which sparked her love of travel. She went on to travel across the US as part of their first crew promoting jet aircraft and later across the world with her husband and family. Those special trips included visiting all four Grand Slam tennis tournaments.

Bill and Sheila began married life in Jackson Heights, New York, and later moved to Westchester County where they lived in Hastings on Hudson, Sleepy Hollow and Ardsley. Sheila forged lifelong friends who continued to be a part of her and her children’s lives over many decades. After moving to Raleigh, NC in the 70s, she built another community of friends on Landor Road, her book club, and in her Northern Ladies Group. She was active in the Junior League and channeled her inviting spirit to start the Transfer Club to welcome other newcomers like herself.

Sheila cared deeply for the people and world around her and was an active volunteer for many organizations, including Wake Relief, Interfaith Food Shuttle, and Meals on Wheels, often volunteering with her children and grandchildren in tow.

Her love of flowers and table displays blossomed into a business, All Things Covered. For many years, she curated events across the Triangle from the Governor’s Mansion to corporate events, often overloading the family washing machine with linens. Her love of design and fabric patterns enabled her to create a beautiful home and setting for her family, making family meals not only special but perfectly curated with linens and floral arrangements at every meal.

As a young adult Sheila worked on Cape Cod. Later, Sheila spent many summers on Nantucket with her husband Bill at their house on the corner of Fair and Darling Street where she tended to her carefully crafted flower boxes and played regular rounds of tennis. She fell in love with the mores, cobblestoned streets and storied history of the island and her volunteer work at Meals on Wheels, the Island Home and the Nantucket Historical Association.

A true caretaker, Sheila poured endless love into her husband, children, and grandchildren. Her smile lit up every room, and her cheerful, peace-making spirit was a gift that brought her family together.

She is survived by her husband, Bill Sullivan; her children, Mimi Sullivan Crews (Alan), Bill Sullivan (Roya), Katie Sullivan Landi (Tony), Michael Sullivan (Suzanne); and her grandchildren,

Erin Crews (Nick), Jason and Josh Crews, Oscar and Luke Sullivan, Edward, Hannah and Fin Landi, Meghan, Kyra and Will Sullivan; and her great-granddaughter, Charlotte. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, who loved their Aunt Sheila.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to those who helped her this past year, especially Clarissa and Mimi, for the exceptional kindness and care given to Sheila.

A reception honoring Sheila will be held on Tuesday, June 9th at The Cardinal at North Hills, 4030 Cardinal at North Hills Street, Raleigh, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, in the media room on the second floor. There will be a short program at 4:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Cir, Raleigh, NC 27607, or Meals on Wheels,1001 Blair Drive, Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27603.

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, NC, is serving the Sullivan family.