Gertrude L. Sullivan, 96, of Wareham passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday December 27, 2020. Gertrude was the wife of the late Kenneth J. “Jim” Sullivan who passed away in 1978. She was born in Boston, the daughter of the late Leo and Margaret (Brady) Manning. Gertrude was well-loved throughout Wareham and beyond. 

A graduate of Girls High School in Boston, Gertrude was a singer that graced audiences throughout the greater Boston area for many years. She sang in the USO and worked in Washington, D.C., for the US Navy during WWII. Gertrude worked as a telephone operator for New England Telephone and Telegraph for many years out of New Bedford.

Gertrude remained active in her retirement, with extensive volunteer work, travel, and going back to school to earn her Bachelor’s degree from UMass Dartmouth at the age of 82. 

She cared deeply for her family and neighbors. She did this not out of obligation, but because of who she was. She was always the first to offer help. She was a larger-than-life adventurer, unforgettable to all those who knew or met her. 

Her family grieves her loss, but they take comfort knowing that Gertrude and Jim are together again. Gertrude’s greatest love was her family. 

Gertrude is survived by their daughters Francie and Faith, eight grandchildren, six great grandchildren, as well as her sister Phyllis Schickle. Gertrude never remarried after the death of her husband Jim, who predeceased her by 45 years. She was the mother of the late Kenneth J Sullivan Jr, grandmother of the late Meredith Grady, and sister of the late Margaret Schickle.

The family will share plans for a Celebration of Life memorial at a future date. 

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations are made to The Wareham Land Trust (Wareham Land Trust, P.O. Box 718, Wareham, MA 02571, Phone: (508) 295-0211, www.warehamlandtrust.com) or CRN (Community Resources Network).

Burial will be private in Agawam Cemetery, Wareham. To leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit www.warehamvillagefuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements are in the care of Wareham Village Funeral Home.