Sr. Mary Jeremiah Sullivan

Sister M. Jeremiah Sullivan, OP, 84, of Springfield, died peacefully at 8:10 a.m. on November 18, 2006 at Sacred Heart Convent, the motherhouse of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield. Sister M. Jeremiah was born on November 15, 1922 in New Berlin, one of ten children of Jeremiah and Genevieve Stapleton Sullivan. After graduating from New Berlin High School, Sister M. Jeremiah was accepted as a postulant (candidate) by the Springfield Dominican Sisters. She professed her vows in January of 1942. Her education included earning a B. S. from Loyola U, Chicago and a Masters in Theology/Scripture from St. Louis U. Sister M. Jeremiah served her religious congregation as Prioress General from 1965-77. Then after a year of study, she ministered in the Springfield Diocese as the 1st woman Diocesan Superintendent of Schools/Director of Education for six years (1978-84). As Prioress General and as Diocesan Director of Education, Sister served on many education and health care Boards. Her previous 23 years of experience as a grade and high school teacher and principal prepared her well for these administrative responsibilities. Sister M. Jeremiah was a teacher and/or principal in the Springfield Diocese for 20 years with 12 of those years at Cathedral School teaching kindergarten (1942-54); she was principal and teacher at St. Norbert’s, Hardin from 1957-63. In 1984 Sister accepted the assignment to teach 6th grade at St. Christina’s, Chicago while serving as prioress of the local community of sisters. Sister M. Jeremiah returned to Springfield in 1990 when she was assigned as the office receptionist at Sacred Heart Griffin High School until she retired in 1999. Sister M. Jeremiah enthusiastically embraced all of her assignments with humility, graciousness and with her wonderful sense of Irish humor; she was proud of the fact that all four of her grandparents came from Ireland! Sister M. Jeremiah was preceded in death by her parents; and three brothers: James, Thomas and Jeremiah Jr. She is survived by three brothers: Robert (wife, Agnes), Avon, IN; Charles (wife, Susan); Venice, FL; and Timothy (wife, Kathleen), Middletown, NJ; three sisters: Mary (husband, David) Lazzeri and Therese (husband, Al) Rechner, Springfield; and Patricia Fitzgerald (husband, Jack deceased), St. Louis; many nieces and nephews; and by her Dominican Sisters with whom she lived and ministered for 66 years. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 from 3:30-7:00 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Convent Motherhouse, 1237 W. Monroe, Springfield. A Vigil Service will be held at 4:30 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 with Rev. Peter Witchousky, OP as presider. Final Commendation and Burial Service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 with burial at Calvary Cemetery following. The family and Dominican Sisters of Sister M. Jeremiah Sullivan, OP are being served by Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield.