Obituary of William J. Sullivan

William Joseph Sullivan of Peabody passed away peacefully at the Woodbriar Rehab Facility in Wilmington, MA on August 15, 2017. Born August 17, 1928 in Hyde Park MA, Bill was the eighth child of Honora (Costello) and Michael J Sullivan of Ireland. Adored husband of the late Marie (Duggan) with whom he joyfully shared 57 years of marriage. Devoted father of Maureen O’Boyle of Lynnfield, MA and Janet and son in law, Josh Randall, of South Windsor, CT. Loving Grandfather to Caitlin LaClair of Danvers, MA and the late Kevin O’Boyle of Cambridge and doting great-grandfather to Melanie, David and Brooklyn. Bill is survived by his sister, Katherine Caliguire of Randolph and predeceased by siblings Michael Sullivan, Mary Harting, Margaret Larkin, James Sullivan, Richard Sullivan, Lawrence Sullivan, Eileen Donelan, John Sullivan and Edmund Sullivan. A graduate of Hyde Park High School in 1946, Bill enlisted in the Army and served as a Corporal and MP during the Korean War occupation of Japan. He met and married Marie shortly after his return and set up their home in Dorchester and later Peabody. Always outgoing and engaging, Bill found the perfect career in sales from driving a milk truck for White Brothers, to selling meat for Dubuque Packing to ultimately selling liquor for McKesson Wine and Spirits. Shortly before his retirement, Bill worked for NFIB. An avid outdoorsman, Bill loved the mountains and lakes of New England - hunting, fishing and especially camping and travelling with his family. His ever-present smile, humor, warmth and cheerful disposition will be sorely missed. Bill’s family wishes to extend their eternal gratitude to the nurses and aides of Woodbriar Rehab for their extraordinary care and compassion. As Bill was a deep lover of nature, in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in his memory to the National Park Foundation, 1110 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005. A visitation will be held at the Conway Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn Street, Peabody on Wednesday, August 23 from 4:00 – 8:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, August 24th at 11:00 am at St John the Baptist, 17 Chestnut St, Peabody, MA. Burial will be in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, West Peabody.