Sister Paulina Sullivan, BVM
Sister Paulina Sullivan, BVM died Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, at Marian Hall in Dubuque, Iowa. She was 95.
Funeral services, Sharing of Memories, and Virtual Visitation were held Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. Burial is in the Mount Carmel Cemetery.
She was born on May 3, 1925, in Kansas City, Mo., to John and Mary (Donnelly) Sullivan. She entered the BVM congregation Sept. 8, 1942, from Holy Name Parish, Kansas City, Mo. She professed first vows on March 19, 1945, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1950.
Sister Paulina was an elementary teacher in Clinton and Fort Dodge, Iowa; Rock Island, Ill.; Chicago; and Wilmot, Wis. She also served as principal in Clinton, Iowa, and Wilmot, Wis.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister Margaret Sullivan. She is survived by a cousin Paula Karczewski, Wood Dale, Ill., and the Sisters of Charity, BVM, with whom she shared life for 78 years.
Memorials may be given to Sisters of Charity, BVM Support Fund, 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003 or make an online gift.
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Sr. Paulina was the best person. She was kind, smart and gentle. She was always there for me. She had faith in me when no one else did. Her spirit will be missed by me and others.
I was saddened to hear the news of Sr. Paulina’s passing. She was my math teacher at Jordan Catholic School, Rock Island, IL. She and Sr. Catherina, are considered legends at Jordan. They were exceptional teachers and kids loved them. I remember they both would attend the Bix 7 mile road race every summer in Davenport, IA. They would be in the same spot near the top of Brady Street Hill and I could pick them out as they would cheer me on as I ran by. They did that every year as long as I could remember. It was something I looked forward to each year trying to discern their faces and voices out from the crowd. Thank you for the pleasant memories Sr.
God has called home an angel. Sister Paulina put up with our 8th grade class she had to be angel. I got lucky and was a neighbor to the Sisters at the Sacred Heart Convent. Sister Paulina was a great listener, great teacher and and wonderful person over all. May the Lord hold her in the palm of his hand.
Sr. Paulina was a long time family friend. She, and Sr. Catherina were the last residents at Sacred Heart convent in Rock Island. I assisted them in their transition from Sacred Heart to Mt. Carmel. It was bittersweet because many of us didn’t want them to leave. But leave they did 😥. However, knowing she and Sr. Catherina were happy and comfortable at the Motherhouse eased our loss. At least both were close enough to visit. Sr. Paulina is now with her heavenly family. Our visiting with her has ended. However, she leaves us with many great memories. She now soars with the angels. She will be missed!
I met Sister Paulina back in the early sixties when she was the new principal at Holy Name of Jesus school in Willow, WI. I was but a child but I fell in love with a teacher who was firm and loving, who listened and guided a young girl full of mischief. Fast forward thirty years and we reconnected through correspondence. I remembered how she alway spoke so lovingly about Mt Carmel, the motherhouse. So, I contacted them to locate Sister. Sister was at Sacred Heart in Rock Island by this time and I resided in Central America in Panama as a wife and mother. We began writing regularly and I cherish her letters to this day. They were always full of wisdom, love and encouragement. Sister was a joy to be around, gentle and with a good sense of humor. She loved God and all his creation. I’m honored and privileged to have known her these many years. May she Rest In Peace and May perpetual light shine upon her.
A classmate of Holy Name of Jesus of Wilmot,WI 1964 let me know of Sr. Mary Paulina’s passing. She was our 8th grade teacher and principal that year. We both remember her being a “tough cookie”. She prepared us mentally to be stronger and more disciplined. When we entered Central High School – Salem, WI most of us were in the top 60 of 280 students because of the skills we had managed to learn. Of course, we didn’t know that number standing until it was revealed 4 years later at our high school graduation. Holy Name prepared us well. Sue Gleason, (then), Karen Meyer (then) and I remember working on starting the library in an old janitors closet and being treated like adults to be included in such a project of book prep and painting the room and chairs. It was a PTA project several others rotated in helping. I went on to be a Home Ec teacher and then took a Masters in Library Science. Who knew I’d reach back to that early formulating experience. Mary Beth Kral (then) also went on to be a university librarian. I hope that Paulina has great peace of mind and is having a long chat on the outcomes of many of her students. I know that I have many that come to mind and have periodically prayed for them at what must be marriage and starting family years. I will look forward to seeing who landed where and in what careers. Thank you to one and all of the BVM sisters and Sr. Mary Paulina for all your years of service without much gratitude. Sister, may you enjoy seeing from the other side the fruits of your labors.