Mary Eileen Sullivan passed away peacefully on Sunday May 6, 2018, at the age of 76, surrounded by her children. Eileen, the daughter of Benjamin Harper and Doris Harper, was born in Portland, Maine on October 7, 1941. The second of seven children, she was raised in both Brooklyn and Babylon, New York. In 1964, Eileen married Michael Joseph Sullivan Jr. and together they had four children, raising them primarily in Connecticut. Eileen was a tireless advocate for others, particularly those without privilege or strong voices of their own, and her unhindered compassion and kindness led her to a career in social work where she worked for many years with intellectually challenged individuals for the State of Connecticut Department of Developmental Services. Her passion for fairness made her well suited for her role as a delegate for the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers New England Union in Connecticut. No matter how soft the call for help, Eileen heard it and put all of herself to work on behalf of those in need. Following her retirement in 2003, Eileen moved to Delray Beach, Florida and devoted much of her time traveling the country visiting with her grandchildren, who became the willing center of her world. While her primary residence was in Florida, she was at home in both Colorado and New York as well. Eileen is predeceased by her husband, her parents, her oldest brother, Benjamin Joseph Harper, and her youngest sister, Jane Alice Chapdelaine. Eileen is survived by her children, Mary Kay Hull (Jeffrey Hull), Megan McIntyre (Sean McIntyre), Margot Stander (Marc Stander), Michael Sullivan (Laurie VanderVeen), and her grandchildren, Christopher Hull, Ciara McIntyre, Aine McIntyre, Marin Stander, and Maggie Stander. She is also survived by her cherished brothers and sisters, Richard Harper (Margaret Harper), Dianne Harper, Margaret Ann Brophy (Lawrence Brophy), John Harper (Alice Harper), her sister-in-law, Louise Harper, her best friend, Charlene Shorter, and many loved nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass will be held at Immaculate Conception Church, 53 Winter Hill Road, Tuckahoe, NY on Saturday, May 12 at 1pm. Mass will be followed by a gathering at the New York Athletic Club Travers Island, 31 Shore Road, Pelham, NY from 2:30 until 5:30.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the American Lung Association in memory of Mary Eileen Sullivan.