Happy 131st Birthday, Nell Madigan Sullivan

Ellen "Nell" Madigan would have been 131 on May 29, 2011. Since her birthday often fell over Memorial Day, the family always celebrated her special day on that weekend. Here are some photos from her life.

Nell, c late 1890s, probably in South Haven, Michigan
where she would often go for summer visits with Laura Carmody.

Al and Nell, c early 1930s, with daughter, Helen

Nell with grandson, Tom,
in backyard of 18 N. Latrobe, c1937

She was a wonderful lady who was a super cook (oh those roast beefs), a fun grandmother and a devout Catholic, attending Mass everyday.  Happy Birthday!

Grandparents, c1949

Al and Nell Sullivan with two of their grandchildren, Elaine and Larry McIntyre, at Lake Lawn Lodge, Delevan, Wisconsin c1949.  They are standing in front of the old hotel which has been torn down.  Good times were had at LLL.

Alex Sullivan, Death Certificate, 1956

Alexander A. Sullivan died on January 26, 1956. He had arteriosclerosis for several years before his death. I remember his legs would fill with water and look very swollen. I was told this was because his heart was not beating properly and therefore not removing extra fluid from his body. Dr. Fitzgerald signed the death certificate. He was the family doctor.

When Al died, he had been retired for several years. For almost all of his working life he had been a steamfitter.  A steamfitter is one who installs and repairs heating, ventilating, refrigeration, and air-conditioning systems.  As early as 1908, on his son's birth certificate, his occupation is listed as steamfitter.

Al was waked for two days at the Hursen Funeral Home located at 5911 West Madison Street, about seven blocks away from his home on Latrobe Avenue.  It was the funeral home the family normally used.  He was buried at Queen of Heaven Cemetery on January 30, 1956 after a funeral mass at St. Thomas Aquinas church, his parish for nearly 50 years. His son, Thomas Sullivan, was the informant on Al's death certificate.

If you double click on the image, it will increase in size.

Nell Madigan Sullivan, Death Certificate, 1966

Nell died on January 21, 1966, almost 10 years to the day from when her husband, Al, passed away. A few weeks before she died, she had a party for all of her friends at her home at 18 N. Latrobe on Chicago. She spent the week before the party cleaning the apartment, walking to grocery stores, the bakery and the meat market -- collecting the food stuffs for the party.  I remember she was so happy getting ready for the event. However, within days of the party, she seemed to fail. Mom said she was supposed to be taking high blood pressure medication, but felt the pills weren't necessary and thought that an aspirin was just as good. Mom thought Nell might have chosen not to take the pills because of their high cost.

She probably had had several small strokes which eventually made her bed-ridden. An ambulance was called but Nell refused to go to the hospital and they had to leave. Her doctor came to the house and gave her some medication that caused her to relax. Unfortunately, it may have also taken her "fight" away and she seemed to slip into a coma. The ambulance was again called and took her to St. Joseph Hospital. She was pronounced dead on arrival.

Like her husband, she was waked at the Hursen Funeral Home on west Madison Street. Her funeral service took place at St. Thomas Aquinas Church -- the Church where she attended Mass each day, almost to the day she died. She is buried next to her husband in Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois.

Nell was a homemaker her entire married life raising two children and tending to her husband Al.

Note, although her death certificate states she is 79, she was actually born on May 29, 1880.  She would have been 86 at the time of her death per her birth certificate.