Sister Betty (St. Leroy) Sullivan, a member of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary who had taught in Hawaii Catholic schools, died Aug. 3 at her congregation’s Caritas Center in Dubuque, Iowa. She was 80 and a religious sister for 62 years.
Sister Betty was remembered by her order as an excellent and creative teacher greatly loved by her students. She had a special kindness for children who had fallen behind, giving them extra attention to “bring them along.”
In Hawaii, Sister Betty taught at St. Catherine School on Kauai and Our Lady of Sorrows School in Wahiawa. She also taught elementary school in Chicago, Grayslake and Round Lake, Illinois; Des Moines, Iowa; W. Hempstead, N.Y.; and Miami, Florida. She also was a volunteer tutor in Chicago and Miami.
Sister Betty was born in Chicago, Dec. 18, 1934, to Daniel Joseph and Margaret (Devereux) Sullivan.
She joined the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, commonly known as the BVM Sisters, on Sept. 8, 1953, from St. Pius Parish, Chicago. Taking the religious name St. Leroy, she professed first vows on March 19, 1956, and final vows on July 16, 1961.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Daniel, Raymond, Leroy and Thomas, and a sister, Sister Margaret Sullivan, BVM. She is survived by nieces, nephews and the Sisters of Charity, BVM, with whom she shared life for 61 years.
Memorials may be given to the Sisters of Charity, BVM Support Fund, 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, Iowa 52003, or online at www.bvmcong.org/whatsnew_obits.cfm.
