Patricia Elaine (Kennedy) Sullivan

Patricia Elaine Sullivan peacefully passed away on July 16, 2020 at the home of her granddaughter, Christy Woodburn, with her only daughter, best friend and caregiver, Elaine Sullivan, by her side. Pat was born on October 25, 1932 to Helen and Aloysius Kennedy and raised in Walkerton, Indiana. Her only sibling and little sister, Carol Moon, resides in South Bend, Indiana.

After graduating from Walkerton Lincoln Township High School in 1950, she married, moved to Indianapolis and raised five children, Paul (Mary), Elaine, Mike (Peggy), Kevin (Angi) & Steve. Her former husband Tom preceded her in death, passing in 2010.

Pat was the definition of work ethic. She arrived early to work every day and took her first sick day from Western Electric after 22 years despite her children being on a first-name basis with the staff at Community East hospital emergency room. She continued her employment with AT&T and eventually retired from Community Health East as a switchboard operator.

Pat was a charter member of St. Simon parish and eventually became a Eucharistic minister. She volunteered for many years at the weekly bingo, the pizza booth at the parish’s annual festival, was a member of SDRC, a volunteer usher for IRT and crocheted many a blanket for Project Linus. She later became a devoted parishioner at Little Flower.

A regular at Murphy’s Steakhouse, she would accompany Elaine to work and loved the evenings with live piano music, a glass of red wine, her buttered carrots and chicken fingers. Pat played piano and organ and introduced her kids to the tunes of Rosemary Clooney, Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass, Neil Diamond and Johnny Cash. 

She was in the audience at as many of her own children’s and grandchildren’s games and school events as she could possibly attend. She loved crocheting, crossword puzzles, reading, watching CSI and Law and Order episodes, playing bingo and dancing. She was caught on video doing her last tango this past year at her granddaughter’s wedding reception with her willing partner and great-granddaughter Brooklynn Sullivan. If you needed a winner, you took Pat with you, she won more bingo games than anyone else in the room, much to the ire of the other players. If you needed a laugh, you took Pat with you as well, get her laughing enough and you would witness the Kennedy snort. Growing up, her parent’s house in Walkerton was where she and her sister’s friends hung out. The Sullivan house was the gathering place for her children’s friends as well. Everyone knew Mrs. Sullivan. She befriended everyone she was introduced to, kept plenty of frozen pizzas on-hand and was always genuinely happy to see you in her living room.

Grandma Mamaw is survived by her five children, grandchildren, Brian (Sarah), Jeff, Christy Woodburn (Ty), Jessica Smith (Brad), Michael (Clare), Adam (Beth), Kaleb, Addison, Maereed (Gage), Boo, Amelia, Christian, Craig, Emily, eleven great-grandchildren and a half dozen canine companions, special shout-out to Petey Pie, her favorite lapdog.

At this time no services are planned. In lieu of flowers or donations treat yourself or a loved one to a scratch-off, lotto ticket, bingo game and may Pat’s luck shine on you, share your winnings, she always did. A Catholic Mass at Little Flower, in her name, will be said at a date still to be determined.

Arrangements are being handled by Bell Mortuary & Crematory, Royster-Askin-Sandrock Chapel, 2310 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46222.

Online condolences can be made at www.bellmortuary.com

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