Connie Sullivan peacefully passed away on June 13th, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.
Connie was fiercely competitive, unwaveringly loyal, and sharp-witted. She would stand up for her family and friends without hesitation. She never "let the kids win,” but was the first to celebrate their successes.Connie was born in Chicago on February 20th, 1939, and grew up in St. Killian's parish on the city's south side. Connie was the fifth of six children born to Robert and Lauretta (Carmody) Kenny. She attended school at St. Killian's and spent her free time with her older sister, Joan, and her mother, while her brothers helped at her father's butcher shop on East 63rd Street. In 1946, Connie’s parents returned to the village where they had honeymooned and built their summer house at Maple and Perkins in Grand Beach. Connie spent her childhood summers there, enjoying the beach, playing golf, and making lifelong friends. Although she didn't move there until 30 years later, Grand Beach immediately became “home.” She attended high school at Longwood Academy on 87th Street in Chicago, where she proudly served as student council president. After graduating, she spent one year at Clarke College before transferring to Mundelein College (now Loyola). It was during a game of bridge in 1958 that she met the love of her life, Jim Sullivan.In 1961, Connie graduated college and began teaching kindergarten at Robert Healy Elementary in Bridgeport. On July 4th, 1962, she married Jim Sullivan, and they settled into their apartment in St. Sabina Parish at 76th and Loomis and started a family. Their first child, Jimmy, was born in 1963. Two years later, the growing family moved to St. Gerald's parish in Oak Lawn, just before the arrival of their second child, Susie. With the later additions of Pat and Danny, they decided to make Grand Beach their permanent home in 1976. In her first year as a full-time resident, Connie made it to the Ladies' golf championship match. Although she didn't win this time, she eventually went on to win three Ladies’ Golf championships, the first against her daughter while Susie was 9 months pregnant!Her life in Grand Beach revolved around her greatest loves: her husband Jim, her parents, and her children. She was active in the community, ran boys’ golf for years, and coached Susie’s high school golf team.
After years of engaging in conversations with anyone and everyone she met, Connie decided to put her gift of gab to use professionally and acquired her real estate license. While raising her children, playing weekly bridge games, and golfing regularly, she spent her weekends in the real estate business, making new friends, and even selling a few houses.Each night after dinner, Connie cherished her time in the living room, talking with Jim and enjoying her signature drink, a Jack Daniel’s old fashion, with the family dog, Seamus, resting on her lap.Connie couldn’t wait to become a grandmother. That prayer was answered tenfold. Finally, she could turn her competitive bargain hunting to good use towards spoiling the grandkids! In her later years, nothing brought her more joy than being surrounded by family and grandkids, whether on vacation or in Grand Beach, Chicago, or Naples. We will miss her.
Connie was the loving wife of Jim, a devoted mother to her four children: Jimmy, Susie (Tom) Yemc, Pat (Aimee), and Danny (Emma). She adored her grandchildren: Tommy, Rachael, and Kate Yemc; Ryan, Colin, and Brendan Sullivan; and Maddy, Kelsey, Quinn, and Grace Sullivan. She was the last surviving sibling of Joan, Bob, Ray, Ronnie, and Roger.
Mass of Christian burial will be Monday, June 19th, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 1010 Moore Road, Long Beach, Indiana. Visitation hours will be Sunday, June 18th, from 2:00 PM until 6:00 PM in the Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, 418 Washington Street, Michigan City, Indiana and Monday from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM in the Notre Dame Catholic Church. Private interment will follow in Swan Lake Memorial Gardens, Michigan City, Indiana.
Connie and Jim shared a deep faith in God and believed firmly in the power of education. In the words of St. Paul, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The Notre Dame School Foundation of Long Beach in her name, in honor of Connie’s firm commitment to faith and education.
