Mrs. Muriel (Toutain) Sullivan, wife of James A. Sullivan, M.D., 77, of 10 Allds Street, Apt. 407, Nashua, N.H., died peacefully at the Hunt Community Pavilion after a short illness on Tuesday, June 16, 2015, surrounded by her loving family, including her husband, children and grandchildren.
Mrs. Sullivan was born on July 21, 1937, in Manchester, N.H., to Andrew and Yvette Toutain. She attended West High School and graduated from Notre Dame College, both in Manchester, N.H. On September 7, 1959, she married James A. Sullivan. Following her marriage, Mrs. Sullivan taught at the Mary Curley School in Jamaica Plains, Mass., where she taught French for one year. She then moved with her husband to Portland, Maine, for a year. For the next six years, she traveled across the United States while her husband served in the army living in Dugway, Utah; Fort Lewis, Washington; and Fort Rucker, Alabama. During this time, they welcomed four children.
In September 1966, Mrs. Sullivan and her family relocated to Nashua where she and her husband have lived for more than 40 years. Mrs. Sullivan obtained her Master’s degree in Special Education from Rivier College while her four children were in school. In addition, she frequently took courses at the Elsa Williams School of Embroidery in Newton, Mass. In 1979, she received a fine arts grant from the Alpha Delta Kappa International Society for Women Educators to further her skills in embroidery. She used this grant to travel to London, England, where she studied early century lace and embroidery techniques. Upon her return, she obtained employment at Pine Manor College where she taught the History of Embroidery and Techniques for several years. Mrs. Sullivan was also employed by the Nashua Adult Learning Center where she oversaw the afterschool program and was instrumental in developing before school, vacation and summer child care programs throughout Nashua, Hudson and Merrimack. Later she worked at the Parent Education Center in Concord, N.H., advocating for disabled children, and then later retired.
Mrs. Sullivan was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend to so many. She is survived by her loving husband James A. Sullivan, M.D., to whom she was married for 56 years; daughter Joanne (Sullivan) Richardson and husband Kevin Richardson; daughter Catherine (Sullivan) Stockman and husband Steve Stockman; son Timothy J. Sullivan and wife Lynn (Matton) Sullivan; daughter Laurie (Sullivan) Tannenbaum and husband Keith Tannenbaum; grandchildren James Cathcart, Keith Richardson, Jeff Stockman, Jen Stockman, Adam Matton, John Sullivan, Zachary Tannenbaum, and Dillon Tannenbaum; and cousin Yolande (Michaud) Nicknair. She was predeceased by her sister Pauline (Toutain) Popek, and parents Yvette and Andrew Toutain.
Visiting hours will be held at the Farwell Funeral Home, 18 Lock Street, Nashua, N.H., Thursday, June 18, 2015, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Patrick’s Church, 29 Spring Street, Nashua, N.H., Friday, June 19, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Hunt Community Scholarship Fund, 10 Allds Street, Nashua, N.H., 03060, or the Home Health and Hospice Care Center, 7 Executive Park Drive, Merrimack, N.H., 03054.Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE. (603) 882-0591. www.farwellfuneral.com
