Obituary of Marie Celeste Sullivan

Sr. Marie Celeste Sullivan, born Claire Marie Sullivan, a health care legend in Tampa, died September 7, 2016, at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY, where she returned on August 21, 2016, to be with her religious Sisters for her final days. She was born March 18, 1929, in Boston, MA, and lived in Roslindale, MA, a spirited Irish Catholic community. She entered religious life with the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany on August 15, 1953, and made her final profession in 1960. After working for eight years at St. Joseph�s Hospital in Providence, RI, she returned to St. Bonaventure University where she graduated with a degree in Business Administration in 1965. She arrived at the original St. Joseph�s Hospital on 7th Avenue in Tampa in 1965 and followed in the footsteps of Sr. Loretto Mary Ballou, who purchased the site for the present St. Joseph�s Hospital that opened in 1967. Sr. Marie Celeste was CEO of St. Joseph�s Hospital from 1970 until 1993. She then served as CEO of Allegany Health System from 1993 until 1997 when she retired. For many years, she served the Diocese of St. Petersburg as Coordinator of Health Affairs. During her leadership, St. Joseph�s Hospital opened the Radiation Therapy Center, Cancer Institute, Mental Health Center, Children�s Hospital, and acquired Women�s Hospital. She also rescued John Knox Village from foreclosure by having St. Joseph�s Hospital purchase it in 1982, thereby protecting the life savings of the residents. She had the vision of St. Joseph�s Hospital spreading to other parts of Hillsborough County and acquired the land in the early 1970�s where St. Joseph�s Hospital North and St. Joseph�s Hospital South are now thriving new hospitals. Her life�s mission was to bring God�s love, mercy, and compassion to all who were ill and suffering within the St. Joseph�s Hospital system. She was a strong-willed, highly intelligent, profoundly spiritual, private woman of passionate faith in God who strived to respond always to His will for her life. In her final days, she was an inspiration to all who cared for and loved her. She continued to pray an unending song of gratitude to God until the end � �Thank you God for everything!� She was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel and Katherine �Kitty� (Cunniff) Sullivan, and her brother, Francis Xavier Sullivan, Captain, US Navy. She was truly proud of her family, their devotion and service to our country, and their love of each other. She is survived by her sister, Eileen Callaghan; six nephews; two nieces; and many, many friends at John Knox Village where she lived a happy, simple life for the past 18 years. A Wake Service will be held on Sunday, September 11, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held September 12, 2016 at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, followed by burial in St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany, NY. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, 115 E. Main St., Allegany, NY 14706; St. Joseph�s Hospital, 3001 W. Dr. M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Tampa 33607; or to your personal charity. May the peace of the Lord be always with you!