In the early hours of January 16th, 2019, Suzanne Rae Sullivan ended her thirty year long battle with Leiomyosarcoma, passing away peacefully in her home in Lansing, MI surrounded by candles, music, loved ones, and her dog, Annie. She was 58 years old. She was born in Flint, MI on November 11, 1960 and was the fourth child of John and Gloria Groves. Suzanne graduated from Kearsley High School, pursued a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education degree at the University of Michigan Flint. She was a passionate teacher who touched the lives of thousands of students over nearly 30 years. Suzanne found and spread joy everywhere she went. She loved to travel and her (often spontaneous) adventures embodied her free spirit. She enjoyed spending summers on Lake Michigan with her family and friends, playing board games late into the night, cooking a fantastic meal for her guests, taking her beloved dogs on walks in the forest, and dancing to the beat of whatever music was playing. Suzanne never let her devastating prognoses get her down; in fact, she used it as a reminder to live every day to the fullest and replaced fear with hope and love, even when the odds were against her. On a “prescription of joy,” she lived and experienced and learned and did as much as she could for as long as she could. Her fierce spirit will always be a source of inspiration for those who knew her.
Suzanne was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her daughter, Taylor Sullivan and step-daughters, Lia and Angelina Spaniolo; her partner, Charlie Spaniolo; her siblings, Laurie and Lil Goff, Kevin and Terry Groves, and Randy and Lyn Groves; and her dog, Annie.
A celebration of Suzanne’s life will be held on Saturday, January 26th at noon (ceremony beginning at 12:30pm) at the Old Town Marquee in Lansing, MI (319 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Lansing, MI 48906; Free parking in the lot across the street). Rhonda Groves and Taylor Sullivan will be officiating. All are welcome.
Suzanne received outstanding care from the nurses at Sparrow Hospice. They were with her through every step of this journey, acting as her and her family’s personal guardian angels. Her family cannot express how deeply they appreciate the kindness and gentle security Hospice provided—they kept Suzanne smiling until the very end. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Sparrow Hospice at http://www.sparrow.org/hospice-charitable-giving.
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