Claudia M. (nee Sell) Sullivan
Claudia M. (nee Sell) Sullivan
Claudia M. (nee Sell) Sullivan, age 76 of Fredonia, N.Y., ended her life’s journey to heaven Sunday, December 10, 2017 at Buffalo General Hospital. She was surrounded by her children and several grandchildren as she passed peacefully from this life. Claudia was the wife of the late Thomas C. Sullivan, who died on Saturday May 13, 2017. Surviving are four sons: Family Court Judge Michael (Valerie) Sullivan, Timothy (Bonnie) Sullivan, Daniel (Deborah) Sullivan, and Thomas (Cheryl) Sullivan all of Fredonia, N.Y. and one daughter, Lori (Phill Pajak) Dow of Cheektowaga, N.Y.; eight grandchildren: Craig (Tammi) Sullivan, Adam(Angela) Sullivan, Rebekah(Scott) Kuczenski, Kayla Sullivan, Daniel Sullivan II, Thomas Sullivan IV, Heather Sullivan, and Zachary Dow, five great-grandchildren: Joshua Kneitinger, Connor Sullivan, Paige Kuczenski, Paxton Kuczenski, and Payton Kuczenski.
Born in Dunkirk, NY the daughter of Harry and Florence (Boryczka) Sell she resided in Dunkirk-Fredonia her entire life. She graduated from Cardinal Mindszenty with the class of 1958. Her plans to become a registered nurse came to an end after she met Tom on a blind date and married a year later, on Memorial Day, 1959.
In addition to her beloved husband of 58 years, Claudia is predeceased by an infant son, Christopher; her brother James (Mary Ann) Sell, who died Wednesday January 18, 2017 and her parents.
Claudia was a full-time mom, grandmother and great-grandmother as well as a happy and devoted wife. Her stay at home presence was the fulfillment of an agreement she and Tom made before they married. After her children were grown, Claudia provided daycare for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren on a regular basis and was still was doing so until the day she was admitted to the hospital days before her passing.
Claudia collected porcelain dolls for many years and she collected everything “Christmas”. From mid-November until Christmas Day she became “Mrs. Claus”. She baked and cooked and grew an extensive Christmas Village collection. Claudia assisted her husband Tom, who played Santa Claus, at the call in Santa Show on cable TV for two dozen years. Claudia loved to crochet, her works included everything from tooth fairy pillows to chicks in Easter eggs and Christmas stockings and tree skirts.
An avid bingo player and worker, she and her late husband were a part of the team that started Bingo at St. Josephs in 1960. Claudia and her husband Tom were the pre-Cana team meeting with dozens of young couple in preparation for marriage not only from St. Joseph’s but other local parishes. They together were a constant presence as volunteers at St. Joseph’s Parish and were honored with the St. Joseph’s Lay Worker award by the Diocese of Buffalo.
After Tom’s retirement they became regular spectators at the lakeshore in Dunkirk watching hundreds of sunsets together over the years followed by a stop for ice cream. They also enjoyed many pilgrimages to the “Cathedral of Luck” a designation given to almost any casino. For several years they worked together of arrange bus excursions to various casinos.
Calls may be made today from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at the LARSON-TIMKO Funeral Home, 20 Central Avenue, Fredonia, N.Y. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph Church, 145 E. Main Street, Fredonia, N.Y. Friday at 11 am (Please assemble at the church.) Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery. Flowers gratefully declined. Memorial contributions in Mrs. Sullivan’s memory may be made to the St. Joseph Church Building Fund. The family has requested, for those coming to the wake to please bring a new and unwrapped toy for “Toys for Tots” in her honor. On line condolences may be made at larsontimkofuneralhome.com. Arrangements by David J. Dengler.