Sister Dominic Sullivan, 1928-2014
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Born January 14, 1928 in Ludlow, Kentucky Entered St. Walburg Monastery December 27, 1947 Received habit, June 29, 1948 First Profession, June 30 1949 Died November 11, 2014 |
Sister Dominic Sullivan, OSB was born to James Patrick and Frances Breuer Sullivan on January 14, 1928 and given the name Mary when she was baptized at St. James Church, Ludlow, KY. Mary was the sixth of twelve children—six boys and six girls—two of whom died in infancy. St. James School was staffed by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. Two of Mary’s sisters entered this community, Sister Teresa Catherine and Sister Rose Patrick. One day in conversation with her sister Jean (Sister Rose), Mary declared she was planning to join the sisters “up on the hill”. She became a postulant at St. Walburg Monastery on December 27, 1947 and began her novice year in 1948, receiving the name Sister Dominic. First and perpetual profession followed in 1949 and 1952. Silver, golden and diamond jubilees were celebrated in 1974, 1999 and 2009.
After perpetual profession Sr. Dominic served as a nurse aide in hospitals staffed by the Benedictine Sisters in Florence and LaJunta, CO from 1949 until 1953. She returned to Kentucky where she taught primary or middle grades in the schools of the Covington diocese—Holy Cross, St. Therese, St. Paul and St. Francis Xavier.
In 1964 Sr. Dominic was sent to the Kentucky mountain region of Appalachia where she did catechetical work and home visiting for Our Lady of Good Counsel parish in Hazard, KY. These many years in the mountains were very active and happy ones for Sr. Dominic.
In 1980 when she returned to live at the monastery Sister Dominic was engaged in home visiting and community service wherever she was needed, particularly in driving and helping in the infirmary. Failing health required that she move to the infirmary in 2004. Her family, far and near, visited frequently and in these last days were a constant presence in prayer and comfort. Sr. Dominic died peacefully in the evening of November 11. Her siblings, James, John, Ann, Thomas, Sr. Teresa Catherine, Elizabeth, Michael, Daniel and Theresa preceded her in death. Surviving her are her brother Joe and his wife Maureen, her sister Sr. Rose, SCN, many devoted nieces and nephews and this Benedictine community.