Valerie Sullivan

Valerie Faden Sullivan, of Saint Charles, MO, passed away on February 18, 2021 at the age of 89. Born and raised in Oak Park, Illinois, she was the dear daughter of the late Herman and Emily Faden. Valerie was preceded in death by her older sister and brother, Emily Faden and Barry Faden.

Valerie attended Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana, where was a member of Le Cercle Jeanne d’Arc, the Sodality of Our Lady, and the Columbine Club. She wrote for the Static (school paper) and served as business manager for the Blue Mantle yearbook. She graduated in 1953 with a degree in Commerce. After college she worked as an executive secretary at Brown Forman Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. Her life changed forever when she met John “Jack” Sullivan. They married in 1956; Valerie never took off her wedding ring during their 47-year marriage and the 18 years after Jack’s death in January 2003. During their marriage they lived in New York, Connecticut, and Louisville, Kentucky.

It was Jack who introduced Valerie to University of Kentucky sports, and she was an avid fan for the rest of her life. They also enjoyed dancing, playing bridge, entertaining, tailgating, listening to music, and traveling. In retirement, they spent 20 memorable winters with friends in Naples, Florida.

Valerie was a loving and devoted mother to her three children, Bart (Mary) Sullivan, Terry (Brenda) Sullivan, and Stacie (Steve) Bunning; she was also a loving grandmother to Hannah (Shane) Gegg, Jack Sullivan, Tyler Sullivan, Nicholas “Coley” Sullivan, and Rylie Bunning. She was a proud great-grandmother to Ava Sullivan and Alexander Gegg.

Valerie was an extremely smart person and was known for the relative ease with which she solved NY Times crossword puzzles. She was always the first one in the room to answer clues on Jeopardy. Valerie spent the last decade living in St. Charles, Missouri, where she made many dear friends and enjoyed weekly bridge games. She was a devout member of the Roman Catholic Church her entire life.

A memorial service for Valerie will be held at a later date in Louisville, Kentucky.

Memorial contributions can be made in Valerie's memory to Saint Mary's College Annual Giving, 138 Madeleva Hall, Notre Dame IN 46556-5001.

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