Joan Beale Sullivan

Joan Beale Sullivan was born in Buffalo, NY on June 11, 1933 and was called home to be with her Lord on July 11, 2021, Raleigh, NC surrounded by her loving husband of 67 years, Thomas Daniel Sullivan and three daughters. Joan resided in Cary, NC and was a member of the Cary Church of Christ with Tom for the past 31 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents Nelson Hume Beale and Magdalene Wilson Beale, and her three brothers, Thomas, Bruce and Harlow (Skip).

Joan first met Tom, her older brother Bruce’s best friend, when she was just 5 years old. They were reacquainted 13 years later at a local soda shop in Ohio while attending Bowling Green State University. Tom and Joan were on a group date, with their respective dates when Joan recognized Tom and reintroduced herself. Love blossomed, and they never had eyes for anyone else. They married May 1, 1954 and the rest is history…

Joan leaves a legacy of love for God, family, and the wonder of nature through her daughters, Lisa Schnell (Mark), Stacy Sullivan, and Kelly Sly (Mark), her grandchildren, Steven Schnell (Alexis), Brynn Zawada (Andrew), Kayla McGarr (Jason), Kara Donchak (Scott), Kevin Sly, Nathan Sly (Victoria) and 4 great grandchildren, Theo, Rosalie Joan, Matthew and Max, as well as many nieces and nephews.

In her 88 years on this earth, Joan was an accomplished homemaker, devoted wife and mother, dental assistant, sales person, Sunday school teacher, friend and caregiver to countless critters (cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, fish), most recently her beloved cat Purrl.

A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, July 16, 2021, at 6:30 pm at the Cary Church of Christ, 6640 Tryon Road in Cary, NC. The service will be live-streamed at carycoc.org.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association.