Florence Ann (Cahill) Sullivan passed away peacefully at home with family at the age of 91 in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Flo, as she was known by family and friends, lived an active life before passing on November 29, 2023.
Flo was born in the Boston, Massachusetts area to parents who had immigrated to the United States from Ireland. After growing up around Boston, Flo married Arthur Lawrence Sullivan and their adventure began. Art had a lengthy career in the National Park Service and the couple lived in several national parks, raising their children in areas as disparate as North Dakota and New York City. Art preceded Flo in death 13 years ago. They had been married for 52 years.
As a young woman, Flo worked as a telephone operator before becoming a homemaker. She would lead the family moves each time Art transferred to a new park. Flo was active in her children’s lives and frequently volunteered at schools and churches. Flo was an animal lover and had a particular fondness for Poodles, including her current furry friend, Mister.
After retirement, Flo and Art continued to travel as they visited countries such as Ireland and Australia. They also enjoyed visiting national parks around the United States. Flo and Art loved their lives with the National Park Service so much that they worked as volunteers in several parks, including Cape Lookout, after their retirement.
Flo is survived by two children, Kevin Lawrence Sullivan of Marietta, Georgia, and Kimberly Ann (Sullivan) Pyles and her husband, Bruce Pyles of Rock Hill, South Carolina; her grandchildren, Sally Pyles Duren and her husband, Lt. Colonel Taylor Duren of Whispering Pines, NC, Madeleine Pyles Thomas and her husband Stewart Thomas of Whispering Pines, NC, Bryan Sullivan of Marietta, GA, Ian Turley of Columbia, MO, and Kelly Turley of Dallas, TX; five great-grandchildren, Sullivan Duren, Arlo Duren, Theodore Duren, Maxwell August Duren, and Arthur Paul Thomas, all of Whispering Pines, NC; her brothers, Thomas Cahill of Massachusetts, and James Cahill of New Hampshire; her sister, Maureen Cahill Digan of New Hampshire; her sister-in-law, Lillian Cahill of Massachusetts; and several nieces and nephews. Her daughter, Sharon Mary Sullivan, preceded Flo in passing 14 years ago.
A burial will be held on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at 1:00 pm at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Memorial Garden, 902 Crawford Rd., Rock Hill, SC 29730. A Memorial Mass and Reception will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that anyone who wants to honor Flo can donate to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 902 Crawford Rd., Rock Hill, SC, 29730, or to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital, www.stjude.org .