1919 - 2015
NORWICH - Maria Antonia White Sullivan passed away late Monday night, November 23, 2015, at Valley View Manor Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Norwich. She was 96 years old.
Of Spanish, Puerto Rican and English ancestry, Maria was born May 16, 1919, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Her father, Edgar Ralph White, was of English descent, and her mother, Mercedes Antonia Bruna y Feliciano, was born in Humacao, Puerto Rico, from ancestors of Spanish and Puerto Rican descent.
On February 15, 1942, Maria married Joseph P. Sullivan. They shared 36 years together until his passing on January 10, 1978.
Maria devoted much of her early years to caring for her family and home. Later on she worked for the Orange County Office for the Aging. This was the first agency of its kind in New York State and Maria was present at its inception.
She moved to Miramar, Florida, in 1980 to care for her parents until their deaths in 1982. Maria was a woman of great faith and taught Sunday School at St. Stephens Parish for many years. She later retired to Unadilla where she lived with her daughter. For the past five years she resided in Norwich.
In addition to her husband, Maria was predeceased by both of her children, Edgar P. Sullivan (2009) and Katherine Mary Sullivan McAllister Lewis (2012), as well as sons-in-law Henry E. McAllister (1981) and David F. Lewis (2014). She was also predeceased by her brothers Charles and Preston White and her sister Mercedes Mingus.
Maria is survived by her daughter-in-law, Gloria Sullivan; her six grandchildren, Marylouise Dygert and husband Kevin of Middlefield, Tracy Gonzalez and husband Willie of Plattekill, Joseph E. Sullivan and wife Lisa of Delaware, Patrick Sullivan of Middletown, Maria Sullivan of Brooklyn and Nicholas Sullivan of Highland; seven great grandchildren, Christopher Dygert, Rebecca Morgan, Edward Gonzalez, Joseph A. Sullivan, Dustin Plimley, Brandon Plimley, and Ray Sullivan; a great great grandson, Zachary Morgan; and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at a later date.
Maria will be laid to rest with her parents in the Garden of Meditation at Hollywood Memorial Gardens in Florida.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
