Obituary of Doreen Sullivan

It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we share with you the passing of our cherished Doreen at age 56, after a brief illness. Ever at her side during her courageous struggle was her loving and devoted husband, Michael, her friend and soul mate. She was the proud and devoted mother of Corey (Amanda Bérubé) and was predeceased by daughter, Robyn, on December 16, 2011. Her mother, Eileen Patterson (the late Denzel Payette), her siblings and their spouses and family members of the Payette and Sullivan families and friends are left to mourn. The DASH between birth and death was a short one for Doreen but in that brief stretch she touched many lives and left her enduring mark. Fuelled by her gift of faith and her strong, courageous strength of character, she maintained an exceptional ability to persevere, 24/7, in her motherly duties, while fostering her roles as faithful, loving wife and endearing daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, friend and neighbour. In her 23 years of constant home care for Robyn she managed to expand the horizons of doctors, nurses, specialists, technicians, social workers, educators and perhaps even some politicians and government officials. Because of her hands-on-experience, on a daily basis, of meeting the challenges of comfort and security for their cerebral palsied daughter, Doreen was able to empower doctors at CHEO with innovative ideas and methods, which they implemented and were able to apply to others in similar situations. This she accomplished with an ever present, positive outlook for Robyn's health and socialization and Corey's successful integration into a career and marriage. She had Mike to help her persevere and a healthy sense of "God being in charge of their lives". Doreen possessed a quiet, reserved, gracious, compassionate STRENGTH OF SPIRIT which allowed her to enjoy some of the simple pleasures of life....tending to her garden, planting flowers, taking Sadie for walks at the farm, swimming in the river, while spreading her love around in kindness to others and not complaining about having her privacy invaded. Doreen loved deeply and was loved deeply in return. Love does not die with death. Love trumps death and reaches across time to bind us together. At Doreen's request, there will be no visitation or service. Interment in the cemetery of St. John The Evangelist Parish, Campbell's Bay, will take place in the Spring. God bless you and rest in peace, Doreen. Memorial donation to the Terry Fox Foundation(http://www.terryfox.org/Donate/Tribute_or_General_Donation.html ) or Centre Hospitalier de l’Université Montréal-Hôpital St-Luc (http://fondationduchum.com/je-donne/comment-faire-un-don/) would be appreciated. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of Doreen's life.