Obituary – Margaret C. Sullivan

Margaret C. Sullivan, 94, of Dubuque, Iowa, passed away peacefully on December 2, 2024, at home surrounded by her family.
Friends and family may visit from 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday December 10, 2024, at St. Columbkille’s Catholic Church in Dubuque, IA.
Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the church with Fr. David Schatz officiating. A livestream of the funeral mass will be on the funeral home Facebook page.
Private family burial will take place in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, is assisting the family.
Margaret was born on April 25, 1930, in Primghar, Iowa, daughter of Vincent and Irene (McAleer) Cassidy. She received her nursing degree from Mercy School of Nursing, her B.A. from Clarke College, and her M.A. from Loras College. She taught in both the nursing and general education departments at Northeast Iowa Community College for 20 years. On October 2, 1954, she was united in marriage to Paul B. Sullivan at St. Columbkille’s. He preceded her in death in 2006. Together they had four sons: James, Brian, Mark, and Joe. She also studied art and became an accomplished artist, and many of her pieces could be seen hanging in her house.
Margaret is survived by her two sons Jim Sullivan and Mark (Brenda) Sullivan, four grandchildren Brandi (Adam) Johnston, Krista, Paige (Troy) Thoma and Shane Sullivan, four great-grandchildren Amara, Beckett, Emery and Arabella, and sister Jean Olson of Austin, Texas.
Those welcoming Margaret home are her parents, husband Paul, sons Joseph and Brian Sullivan, and brothers Robert and Fr. John V. Cassidy.
The family would like to thank Hospice of Dubuque for all of their amazing care of mom.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Margaret’s name to Hospice of Dubuque.
“Love, laugh, and believe – life was a beautiful journey. Thank you, God, for your absolute presence.” – Love, Margaret. “Oh. Poof.”