Suzanne T Sullivan

Suzanne T. (Frechette) Sullivan, 56, of Worcester, passed away in her home, surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, September 13, 2012. Suzanne is survived by her loving husband, of nearly thirty-one years, Larry A. Sullivan; two sons, John L. Sullivan of Worcester and Washington D.C. and Matthew J. Sullivan of Worcester; two brothers, Joseph G. Frechette and Denis P. Frechette and his wife Susan all of Worcester; nieces and nephews. Suzanne was born in Cambridge, MA, daughter of Joseph and Marie (Cote) Frechette. Suzanne started her formal nursing career in 1979 after graduating from Salem State College with a Bachelors Degree in Nursing, and passing the RN board exam. She began at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge MA on a medical/surgical floor. She then married and moved to Worcester where she expanded her knowledge and skills while working for the VNA Care Network doing community nursing, for Venerini Acadamy, and multiple other Worcester agencies. In 1988 she joined the staff at Memorial Hospital in the CCU and quickly became a member of the "YaYa Sisterhood". In 1999 Suzanne entered the UMass Graduate School of Nursing in the Adult/Geriatric program. By the time of her graduation Suzanne had found her niche in caring for elders and providing counseling about how they chose to live the final days of their life journey. In 2001, she joined the Fallon Clinic Department of Geriatrics. She covered several nursing homes including St Francis, Notre Dame and Shrewsbury Nursing Home. Suzanne later went on to provide care to participants of the EVERCARE Program and Summit ElderCare. Her mission then turned to helping those who had chosen nursing as a career to learn from a nurse who had accumulated a vast amount of knowledge and experience. She joined the faculty of Quinsigamond Community College and taught many classes at the UMass Graduate Nursing program and within the Medical School curriculum. Her most recent role was as a Nurse Practitioner in the "Home Run Program" through the VNA care network which provided acute and chronic care to frail elders living in the Worcester County area. During her entire nursing career she has received multiple awards, made numerous presentations and was involved in several research projects. Most notably though Suzanne will be remembered for her kind compassionate care, her value of human life, the role that health care providers play in helping patients to make informed choices, and her resounding belief in her faith and its impact on peace filled end of Life care for those who are suffering from acute and chronic disease. Suzanne's Catholic faith was an integral part of all of her work and every aspect of her life. She was very active in parish life at St. Stephen's church where she taught CCD and Confirmation classes as well as serving as a Eucharistic Minister and lector. Suzanne's gentle spirit, her quick laugh, and her healing presence will be remembered by everyone she touched throughout her life, especially by those who knew her as mom, sister, auntie, friend, or teacher. SERVICES: Calling hours for Suzanne will be held on Monday, September 17, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. in Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester. Her nursing colleagues will perform a Nightingale Ceremony at 7 p.m. Her Funeral will be held on Tuesday, from the funeral home with a Mass at 10 a.m. in Saint Stephen's Church, 357 Grafton Street, Worcester. Interment will follow in Saint John's Cemetery, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to The Restoration Fund at Saint Stephen's Church, 357 Grafton Street, Worcester, MA 01604 or to The Suzanne Sullivan Scholarship at The University of Massachusetts Graduate School of Nursing, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, ATTN: Jill Terrien.