Obituary of Joseph Charles Sullivan

Joseph Charles Sullivan passed to his eternal home on Thursday, January 3, 2019, after a long illness. Joe was born in Ansonia, CT, on June 23, 1941, son of the late Francis J. and Catherine Cordett Sullivan. Joe graduated from Ansonia High School and was a 1985 graduate of Quinnipiac University. Joe was married for 55 years to the late Shirley Beaucaire Sullivan who passed away on August 20, 2018. Before relocating to Oro Valley, Arizona twenty years ago, they raised their five children, Edmund, Shirley, Sean, Sharon, and Sheryl in Shelton, CT where they were active members of St. Joseph's Church, participating in the PreCana, Marriage Encounter and music programs. Joe also served on the Finance Committee, the Parish Council and ran the church carnival for many years. Joe taught his children the value of hard work and held multiple jobs to support his family. He worked at Safe Lightening Protection with his father and also worked at The Sponge Rubber factory in Shelton. He was a long-time manager of the ShopRite in Derby and other stores in CT. He also worked for RGIS Inventory Specialists in CT and AZ prior to his retirement. Joe and Shirley made several cross-country road trips and enjoyed visiting Hawaii, Disney World, Maine, Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Cape Cod and Florida with their children and grandchildren. Joe is survived by his son Edmund Sullivan, daughter Shirley Lamy (Larry) of Tucson, son Sean Sullivan (Carla) of Shelton, CT, daughter Sharon Machuga (Alan) of Palm Beach Gardens, FL and daughter Sheryl Fenn (Bill) of Madison, CT. He is also survived by his cherished grandchildren, Ryan (Melanie), Tyler (Bethany), Shannon, Kelsey, Elise, Matthew, Mei Li, Cai Li, Tim, Mike (Jen), and his great-granddaughters, Rory, Julia and Molly. Joe is also survived by his brother Bill Sullivan of Beach Island, SC and his sisters Mary Geloso of Seymour, CT and Corrine Gilbert of Ansonia, CT, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife and parents, Joe was predeceased by sisters, Dorothy Jesulaitis, Catherine DeFelice and Jeanne Brualdi and brother Francis Sullivan. Joe will be missed by all those who knew him.