Helen Sullivan was born in Alexandria VA in 1927. She lived all but the last 5 years of her 79 years in Virginia. A stay-at-home Mom, she raised two children, Diane Fossum of Richland, WA and Craig Sullivan of Cleveland, TN. She was a resident of the Quail Hollow Memory Care Facility for the past 5 years and died peacefully in her sleep on August 29th, 2007.

Helen loved fishing, visiting with family and entertaining friends at their home on the Corrotoman River in Virginia. She was married for 49 years to Craig Sullivan who preceded her in death in 1997. She worked as a volunteer with her local Hospice program and was a volunteer reading teacher at the Lancaster County Correctional Facility. She was especially proud of being one of the founders of the Free Health Clinic in Kilmarnock, VA and worked there as a volunteer for many years.

At Quail Hollow a hidden art talent was uncovered and Helen was awarded a blue ribbon for an original art piece entered in last year’s Benton County Fair. She was a warm, loving, and supportive Mom. From her children’s perspective, she was someone they could talk to about anything. The ability to have these special, intimate conversations is what they will miss most.

She is also survived by son-in-law Phill Fossum of Richland, WA, daughter-in-law Carol Sullivan, of Cleveland, TN, four Grandchildren, Megan and Dennis Niebuhr of Yakima, WA, Justin Fossum of Tacoma, WA, Kristin Sullivan and Stephen Sullivan of Cleveland, TN, and 3 Great Grandchildren, Katelyn, Helen, and Devin Niebuhr of Yakima, WA.

A private celebration of her life will be held by her family on September 8th and the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association 910 W. 5th Ave., Ste. 256 Spokane, WA 99204 be made in lieu of flowers.