Jennifer Sullivan, director of Shantivanam Forest of Peace, manifested Living Buddha, Living Christ in her every action. She built community and had a welcoming spacious heart. We will miss her. Here is the notice of her death from Tom Turkle and her obituary.
Dearest Friends,
Jennifer's fierce struggle against an overwhelming and all-consuming disease ended this morning at about 1:30 a.m. She had fought the good fight, but her opponent was unstoppable in its invasion of her body. In a little more than three mere weeks since it was first discovered, Jennifer has gone Home. She was strong, courageous and focused throughout until that time when the medications to keep her comfortable took her slowly further and deeper away from us. Her care was exquisite and the medical and hospice personnel giving beyond measure. She acknowledged numerous times how fortunate she was to have such attentive and loving care.
Joanne, her aunt Lucille and I were privileged to be close to Jennifer last night at the time of her death and to help transition Jennifer from her hospital room of this short but intense duration to a place of preparation for the celebration of her life and work. Jen, Kate and Mary have kept Shantivanam focused in prayer and hospitality through all this with their usual grace, dedication and selfless non-attention to themselves. This generous posture allowed Joanne in particular the freedom to be present to the immediate care and concern of Jennifer without the burden of her responsibilities at Shantivanam, as well as continuing to provide the sacred space necessary for peace and solace to so many who have struggled in communion with this unsettling saga. The remarkable journey of these past weeks for so many would not have been possible without them.
Please forgive what might clearly be rambling in this note. We've all had a difficult journey - and a long night and day - but we rejoice that Jennifer is now at peace. The write-up below gives some background details and outlines the ritual arrangements, thanks in great deal to the overwhelming generosity of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth.
Peace,
Tom
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Jennifer (Mary L.) Sullivan, daughter of Donald and Marion Sullivan, age 61, died on August 13, 2006, from advanced and aggressive lung cancer. Jennifer was born in Escanaba, Michigan, on June 6, 1945, and attended Webster Grade School. She graduated from Holy Name High School in 1963. She then attended Silver Lake College and graduated from there in 1967. She was a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity for thirteen years during which time she taught at various schools in the Fox Valley Region of Wisconsin.
In 1977 she moved to Easton, Kansas, where she worked and was a member of the community of Shantivanam, the Archdiocesan House of Prayer of Kansas City, Kansas. She was appointed Director in 1998, and there she labored in love until her untimely death, ministering for almost 30 years to countless guests coming for solitude, peace and prayer.
Jennifer is survived by her mother, Marion Sullivan of Escanaba, her sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Bruce Farrell of Marquette, Michigan, and two nieces, Mary Beth Vargo of Lakewood, Colorado, and Jennifer Miller of Battle Creek, Michigan, along with many close friends and the extended family of the community of Shantivanam.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Annunciation Chapel at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity, 4200 S 4th Street, Leavenworth, Kansas, on August 16th, at 11:30 a.m., with visitation from 10:00 to 11:00. A vigil and viewing will be at Annunciation Chapel between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. on August 15th.
Jennifer requested no flowers, but rather that any donations left in her name be distributed to the charities and places of need closest to her heart. Donations may be made to the Jennifer Sullivan Memorial Fund c/o Shantivanam, Easton, KS 66020-7038.
