“A single person is missing for you, and the whole world is empty.”

― Joan Didion, The Year of Magical Thinking

Bernie Sullivan’s story starts on June 12, 1930, in Lindsay, Nebraska, a rural farming outpost, population: 332. The youngest child of Isabella and Killian Schmitz grew up in a large household of 10 children during the Great Depression. Her father died in 1941 in a construction accident while working for the WPA, one of FDR’s alphabet agencies.

In 1947, prior to her senior year in high school, Bernie and her mom Isabella picked up and moved to Los Angeles, following four of her sisters who relocated West in 1942 for jobs supporting the war effort. Aside from the obvious culture shock, Bernie recalled seeing – and eating – artichokes, avocados, and tamales for the first time.

Bernie always excelled in school, especially math, so it was no surprise she was hired by Security Pacific Bank right out of high school. She went onto be one of the first female bank supervisors in the LA area. It was at the 12th & Maple branch downtown where she would meet the love of her life, Frank Sullivan, an Irish/Italian transplant from South Philadelphia. They married in 1957 and lived in Hollywood briefly, prior to purchasing a house in the Verdugo Woodlands area of Glendale, where she lived for 63 years. They raised three children there, 2 of which never bothered to balance their checkbooks, much to her banking-background dismay.

Our cherished Bernadeen, Bernie, Beanie, Aunt Bernie, Gramma and GMA passed away peacefully of natural causes on August 1, 2023, with her daughter at her side.

Besides her family and her faith, Bernie loved sports. She attended many a World Series, 3 Super Bowls, Rose Bowls, UCLA games, Lakers Championships, the Kings Stanley Cup, Army/Navy games, the Olympics and the World Cup. Her favorite team was UCLA and whoever was playing USC!

Waiting for her in heaven will be her husband Frank, 6 sisters, 3 brothers, her parents, countless friends and relatives, Vin Scully, Kobe Bryant, and John Wooden. She survived by her three children: Julie (Charlie), Patrick (Julie) and Joan (her job); grandkids Madison, Sabrina, Shelby and Daniel, countless caring nieces and nephews, friends, neighbors, and her Holy Redeemer buddies from the coffee club and rosary group.

A special thank you Analee and all the staff at Montrose Healthcare Center, Sr. Vicki Smurlo, BVM, as well as Daisy and team at The Mission Hospice.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday August 12, 2023, at Holy Redeemer Church, 2400 Montrose Avenue, Montrose, CA 91020. Private interment will follow at San Fernando Mission Cemetery.