Mary I. Sullivan Welsh

Our beloved mother, Mary Imelda (Sullivan) Welsh died on Feb 16, 2023, in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Mary was born July 24, 1938, to the late Harold Cornelius Sullivan and Maude Marie (Rivard) Sullivan in Lowell, Massachusetts.  She graduated from the all-girls Catholic School, Notre Dame Academy in Tyngsborough, MA, where she lettered in varsity basketball.  She attended Lowell Community College and graduated with an Associate of Arts degree.  In 1958, she married her one true love, John Francis Welsh, who at the time was stationed with the U.S. Army at Fort Devens.  After the birth of the first of their eleven children, they moved back to his hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah where they primarily lived for the better part of 64 years.  Their devotion to each other was undeniable and set a beautiful example to all of their children.

John and Mary were early parishioners of St. Ambrose Parish, and they worked tirelessly to provide a private Catholic School education to all their children, all of whom attended both J.E. Cosgriff Elementary and Judge Memorial High School. Throughout the years, Mary devoted many thousands of hours volunteering in many educational capacities throughout the Salt Lake Diocese.  In addition to working with the Altar Society at St. Ambrose, where she served as President and was voted “Woman of the Year”, Mary also supported her kids’ extracurricular activities in scouting, football, baseball, softball, basketball, track, swimming, volleyball, dance and lacrosse.  In her love for all things Irish, Mary was a founding member and an instrumental board member and was a lifelong supporter of the Hibernian Society of Utah and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Salt Lake City.

After most of her children were raised, Mary went to work at Judge Memorial where she worked in the Development office and eventually served as the Registrar until her retirement.   In retirement she continued to serve as a volunteer at J.E. Cosgriff Elementary.
Mary was so devoted to her family. Raising ten children meant she had to be creative if she wanted to have a home filled with love and beauty. She was an accomplished crafter that took the form of sewing, knitting, cross stitch, upholstering, scrapbooking and even writing poetry. She passed this artistic talent on to all her children who possess artistic talents in some form or another.  She loved her kids and grandkids so much and even as her health declined, she was often heard bragging to her caregivers about her ten children.

Mary is survived by her brother, Jack (Caryl) Sullivan of Nashua, NH; ten children, Karen (Scott) Gygi of Pleasant Grove, UT, Jayne (Kelly) Surbeck of Salinas, CA, TJ (Susan) Welsh of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, Mary Kate (John) Tikotsky of Los Angeles, CA,  Jennifer (Bruce) Pittenger of Salinas, CA, Thomas (Kristal) Welsh of Salt Lake, Meghan (Jaret) Gibson of Salt Lake, John (Cheryl) Welsh of Allenstown, NH, Joe Welsh of Salt Lake, and Patrick (Marie) Welsh of Salt Lake, eighteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by four nephews and two nieces (Lytle family), and cousins Donna (Eddie) St Gelais of Hudson, NH, and Paula (Bernie) Lach of Dracut, MA; in addition to her many cousins in the Rivard clan of Lowell, MA.
 
She is preceded in death by her husband of sixty-one years, John F. Welsh; her parents, sister-in-law and brother-in-law (Helen Frances Welsh Lytle and William Hamilton Lytle), her sister-in-law (Mary Barbara Welsh), and an infant son (John Francis Welsh).

We would also like to thank Canyon Rim Hospice for the loving guidance and support during this difficult time of caring for our mother. Our heartfelt gratitude to our mother’s private caregiver, Maria Luna.
Words cannot express our eternal gratitude. She had a special gift of understanding our mother’s daily needs coupled with her patience and understanding were truly a blessing.
We would like to profoundly thank our beautiful sister, Meghan (Welsh) Gibson who was a devout daughter and tireless advocate for our parents.  She gave the greatest gift of love not only our parents, but to all of us kids who couldn’t always be there – her care for them was above and beyond measure and we are eternally grateful. She is an angel amongst us. 

We would also like to thank our siblings and her grandkids that reside in Salt Lake City that also contributed in her care over the past few years.
 
A Celebration of her life will be held on Thursday, April 13, 2023 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City, Utah. Guests are encouraged to use the parking and entrance on the north side of the building.  Funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, April 14, 2023 at 11:00 AM at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 2315 E Redondo Ave, Salt Lake City, Utah. She will be buried in the family plot at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Salt Lake City. In lieu of flowers, Mary requested that donations be made to Judge Memorial High School, https://www.judgememorial.org/ways-to-give

Beidh sí beo inár gcroíthe go deo / Gaelic: She will live in our hearts forever.