Maureen Anne Sullivan

Maureen Sullivan, May 19, 1952 – February 11, 2023.

Maureen, 70, passed away peacefully in her home in Indianapolis surrounded by her family. During her lifetime she was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, godmother and friend, but her greatest joy may have been the last 14 years she cherished as Mamaw to her twelve granddaughters and one grandson. She is survived by her husband of 46 years William R. Mattingly III, her sons William IV (and Sarah), Daniel (Jill), Charles (Caroline), and Peter (Sarah), the aforementioned grandchildren, and countless family and friends across Indiana and beyond.

Born in New York City to Robert (dec.) and Agnes Sullivan, she was the oldest of seven children. Shortly before the birth of her younger brother Mark the family moved to the Midwest where they would welcome her remaining siblings: Agnes, Genevieve, Monica, Beth and Bernadette. Maureen attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where she was an active member of the local theater and civil rights communities. A lifelong sports fan, she would often regale family and friends with an enthusiastic rendition of “Hail to the Victors!” following any UM triumph.

It was during her early years in Speedway, IN that she first met her beloved Bill in Mrs. Lichtenberg’s 2nd grade class at St. Christopher. Over the years they bonded over Chinese food and joint babysitting duties as the oldest children of large Catholic families. Eventually Maureen asked Bill to marry her (you read that right) in 1976. For the record: Bill had made an earlier proposal that was met with a maybe. They were wed on October 16th at St. Christopher – where their story started – and spent the next 46 years building a family, traveling the world and perfecting dessert recipes.

Maureen’s work ethic and passions enriched her life and everyone she encountered. She continued acting into her late 50s, maintained flourishing flower and vegetable gardens, taught at Cathedral High School and sang proudly in every church she ever entered. Effortlessly eloquent and even more well read, she was quick to gently guide a pronunciation or lend wisdom in the form of a Shakespeare stanza. The ultimate host, Maureen was perhaps most widely known as the matriarch of an annual Summer Harvest Party with triple digit attendees and a seated Thanksgiving dinner for more than seventy-five at their famed Zionsville farmhouse. Come once, and you were always welcome.

Family was her life and in death will be her legacy. Nothing made her more proud. She will be missed in every quiet moment on a porch swing and every celebratory song, but her love and memory will live on forever. Services will be held at St. Matthew Catholic Church. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm on Friday, February 17th with a mass of Christian burial at 10 am on Saturday, February 18th. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Vincent de Paul and the Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis.