Esther M. (McCarthy) Sullivan, 97, of New Bedford died peacefully Monday, January 25, 2010 at St. Luke's Hospital after a period of declining health. A lifelong resident of New Bedford, she was the widow of Francis S. Sullivan, who died in 1973, and daughter of the late James L. and Catherine (Monahan) McCarthy.
A homemaker, she volunteered as a Brownie and Girl Scout leader and at the Rose Hawthorne Lathrop Home, as well as with the fundraising activities at her church, Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, where she was an active member of the Women's Guild. She also was a member of the Catholic Women's Club and the Daughters of Isabella.
Esther was one of two surviving graduates of Holy Family High School, Class of 1929. An avid reader, knitter, seamstress, bowler, and card player, she delighted in having her family and friends gather to share music, dance, discuss politics and the Red Sox, and to enjoy her famous toll house cookies.
She most treasured her daughter, Martha S. Osborne and her husband Jim of Mattapoisett; her three grandchildren, Kateri Lohr and her husband Ted of Hood River, OR, Erin O'Connell and her husband Greg of Bethesda, MD, and Matthew Osborne and his wife Andrea of Boston; and two great-grandchildren, Katie Lohr and Nate O'Connell. She was the sister of James L. McCarthy of Glendale, AZ, and the late Eugene, Catherine, Frances, Rose and Barbara.
Esther was an inspiration to all who knew and loved her.
A private family funeral service was held on Saturday at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Burial followed in St. Mary's Cemetery. A Memorial Mass in celebration of her life, to which relatives and friends will be invited to attend, will be held in the summer at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Catholic Social Services, 1600 Bay St., P.O. Box M, South Station, Fall River, MA 02724. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.