October 31, 1926 – October 14, 2023

VIOLET “VI” PEARL SULLIVAN, 96, our beloved mother and grandmother woke up in eternity on Saturday, October 14th, 2023. She slipped away quietly and peacefully during the night in her bed. A bed she had slept in since the early days of her marriage. In her room, in a place she didn’t want to leave. This is how she wanted to pass from this life to the next and we are so thankful her prayers were answered.

We as a family are of course saddened by the suddenness of this, but we are also so thankful. We will miss her something fierce.

Violet was the beloved wife of the late Daniel Wilfred Sullivan. She is the loving mother of Kim (Dianne) Sullivan, Phil (Shelley) Sullivan, Dawn Sullivan, Shannon (Hoyt) Seitz, Chris adopted daughter; her grandchildren: DeAndra, Hunter, KiAnna, Mackenzie, Kyle, and Louisa.

Violet was born October 31, 1926, in High River, Alberta. Growing up Violet lived in many communities in Alberta and Saskatchewan. She completed her Grade Twelve from Portreeve School in 1945. A typing teacher there gave Vi a very sound foundation to touch typing, which was a skill that mom developed to perfection. Her ambition from an early age was to become a teacher and she achieved this ambition, graduating from the Moose Jaw Teacher Training program in 1950.
She began her teaching career with the Regina Public School Board that year to a Grade Six class of 39 students, 19 of which she always described as “streetwise active boys”. In June 1954, Violet accepted a position at the Granum School and returned home to live there with her parents as her dad was the CPR Agent. In September 1957, she transferred to Claresholm to teach grade 7. It was there that she met her husband Daniel “Wilfred” who was the vice-principal of the Claresholm High School. Violet and Wilf were married June 30th, 1958, at St. Benedicts, the same church her parents were wed.

The following year was spent in Missoula as Wilf completed his Master’s in June 1959 from the University of Montana. After Wilf accepted the principalship of Granum Schools, they began their family of four. Violet taught Home Economics and Remedial Reading. Fashion shows were a common appearance. Vi was a master seamstress, making clothes and costumes and then branching out into quilting. She could just look at something and then create it. Many students baked their first pies with Violet. In 1973, both Wilf and Violet accepted teaching positions in Fort Macleod. Violet was a resource room teacher at GR Davis School, remaining in this role until retiring in June of 1992. Mother was very proud of the fact that she taught three generations of one family! She taught the students the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. The pie making continued in Fort Macleod as grade six students baked their first pie to be consumed on their campout at the river bottom.

Family life was busy for Violet and Wilf as their children became involved in many activities, supporting them in all their endeavors. The summers involved the swimming pool, Summer Games and baseball/softball; the falls involved basketball and volleyball and the winters involved hockey. Throughout the year the family delivered both the Lethbridge and Calgary Heralds. Family vacations had the Sullivan’s traveling to Kootenay Lake, Whitefish Lake, and cherry picking in Creston. Fairmont Hot Springs was another favorite spot. Picnics were common in the Porcupine Hills, Waterton and Glacier National Park, pie and Christmas cake were often served. The station wagon was expertly packed with all necessities, we still often wonder how she managed to make everything fit. Violet was an amazing homesteader from canning fruit, jams, and jellies to canning meat. Gathering and preserving occurred whenever the opportunities presented themselves; from the ditches with horseradish, to the blackberry bushes, to the bogs with cranberries, she did it all. She demonstrated the art of using and reusing resources you already have for new purposes and enjoyment, particularly masking tape and wrapping paper!

She taught us all many things but one thing we all witnessed was her role as a caregiver. Whether it was for her in-laws and her own parents, and finally her beloved husband Wilfred. Violet’s family is very thankful and grateful for the wonderful care and compassion from the staff at the View and her health care aides, both of which have supported her since the fall of 2009.

Violet has left a legacy in her children, her daughters-in-law, her son-in-law, her adopted daughter, and her six grandchildren. We all knew how much she loved us and was so delighted and proud of our accomplishments.

Until we meet again, we love you Mother/Mom, Mom-in-law, and Grandma.

A Celebration of Violet’s Life will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825 – 32 Street South, Lethbridge, AB, on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 1:00 P.M. with Hoyt Seitz officiating.

In memory of Violet, donations may be made to the Fort Macleod Handibus Association (https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/fort-macleod-handibus-society/)

 

To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

• Date : 2023-10-14
• Location : Alberta