Margaret ‘Peg’ Sullivan, 79

Margaret “Peg” Sullivan passed away peacefully on Feb. 2, 2024, in her home surrounded by her family. Peg was born in Aurora, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Goode) Stemm. She married Michael Sullivan on Dec. 28, 1965. Peg attendedSt. Scholastica High School in Chicago and graduated in 1962.

She began her college studies at Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and graduated from Mundelein College inChicago with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.

Peg’s plan to pursue a career in education had to be put on hold for a time as she gave birth to twin sons, Joseph, and John in January 1967, and a daughter, Kathleen, was born 23 months later in December 1968. A son, Patrick, was born in September 1972.

Peg began her long and dedicated career in church work as a high school student who was trained to teach CCD at the grade school level. She continued her involvement teaching CCD at many different parishes until well into the 1980s.

Peg and her family relocated to Woodstock in 1969. Through the years, Peg was active throughout the community with many different organizations. She volunteered in adult literacy programs at the Woodstock Public Library, worked on theFair Diddley fundraiser program for the Mental Health Board, the Welcome Wagon, the HeadStart Board, and the Woodstock Area Prayer Breakfast. She also did many hours of volunteer work at The Memorial Hospital in Woodstock in several capacities. 

Peg began teaching at Kids Unlimited Preschool in 1979 and enjoyed her time working there until 1984. In August 1984,Peg began providing day care for infants to preschoolers in her home. For the next 10 years she welcomed dozens of children not only into her home but into her heart. Peg continued to stay in contact with many of the children she cared for and enjoyed watching them thrive as adults.

Peg was an active parent during her children’s education at St. Mary’s grade school and Marian Central Catholic High School. If a need for help arose at the school, Peg was there to help out in ways too numerous to list. Her caring went beyond the classroom as she opened her home after school so her children and their friends could “hang out” and was always there whenever anyone needed an ear to listen or some motherly advice.

Starting in the 1990s through 2007, Peg’s role at St. Mary Church shifted from children’s education to adult education when she became involved with RCIA and in Adult Spiritual Formation and Education.

In 2007, Peg received a Master of Arts degree in ministry from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. It was a degree she worked very hard for, traveling to and from Dubuque, Iowa, on weekends for about three years. She was extremely proud of being a DuHawk as many of her family members attended and graduated from Loras and her family history dates back to the college over 100 years. Unfortunately, soon after obtaining her degree, personal health issues forced her to retire from the position she truly enjoyed.

Peg is survived by her husband of 58 years, Michael, and by her four children, Joseph (Akemi), John (Rika), Kathleen (William) Lawrence, and Patrick. She is also survived by her nine grandchildren: Michael Sullivan, Viola Sullivan, Seamus Sullivan, Samuel Sullivan, Sheena Sullivan, William Lawrence IV, Conor Lawrence, Paiton Lawrence, and Brian Lawrence; sisters-in-law, Joan Keller and Sue Chvatal; brothers-in-law, Phillip (Vicki) Corcoran and Gary (Francie) Eveland; brother, David (Karen) Kuebel; sisters, Marlene Lehn (Terry) and Deb (Tom) Garland; and many nieces and nephews.

Peg was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Mary Stemm; sister, Mary Catherine (Stemm) Eveland; and brother-in-law, John Chvatal; and our sweet Rosie O’Grady.

Peg’s family would also like to thank her medical teams at Northwestern Medicine Hospital (Huntley and McHenry) and her all-star team from JourneyCare who worked countless hours with compassion and dedication to give her the best care we could have hoped for.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, between 3 and 7 p.m. at Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney, 1211 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock, IL 60098. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St Mary Catholic Church, 312 Lincoln Ave;, Woodstock, IL 60098, on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Gavers Community Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 1724, Woodstock, IL 60098, or Northwestern Memorial Foundation, 541 N, Fairbanks Court, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60611.

For more information, contact the Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home at 815-338-1710 or visit slmcfh.com.