Mary Lou (Aloyse) Sullivan Smith
Mary Lou (Aloyse) Sullivan Smith passed away on April 23, 2015. She was born March 8,1927 to Dr. James McGeough Sullivan and Marguerite Fenn Sullivan at St. Mary’s Hospital in San Francisco, CA and attended St Monica’s Elementary School, Convent of the Sacred Heart High School, and San Francisco College for Women/Lone Mountain. She earned her teaching credential and taught first graders at Le Conte Elementary School.
Mary Lou married Honorable Peter Allen Smith on September 2, 1950. In addition to her devoted husband, she was adored by seven children-Marguerite Sweeney Edralin, Amelie Keane (Bert), Peter Smith, MJ Mahoney (Dan), Beth Hossfeld (Steve), Anne Smith, and Maureen Smith, 26 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, siblings Vincent J. Sullivan, Anne Marie Schlesselmann, and the late James Fenn Sullivan and Joan Theresa Sullivan. She also leaves cousin Don Fenn (Nancy), and many more dearly loved relatives. Mary Lou had many close friends with whom she shared the joys and cares of raising a family, love, faith, laughter, beauty and music.
Mary Lou served as President of the Alumni Association of Lone Mountain, taught CCD at Saint Sebastian’s in Greenbrae, volunteered with Catholic Social Services, and then became certified in Pastoral Care at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley. For nearly twenty years, Mary Lou worked in the Oakland Diocese as a chaplain at Summit, Peralta, and Providence hospitals where she ministered to patients and families from all denominations and walks of life.
Mary Lou had the gift of compassion, which she shared generously. She cared deeply for those who suffered, and advocated for social justice causes in the Bay Area. She loved the beauty of Mt. Tamalpais, Lake Tahoe, the Monterey Peninsula, and San Francisco’s fog.
The family wishes to thank her loving caregivers Mary Narayan, Judy Wagner, Emalene Anderson, Sherry Robison, granddaughter Kelli Peterson, and the staff at the Nazareth House and Hospice by the Bay.
A Rosary will be held at St. Sebastian’s Church, Greenbrae, on Tuesday, April 28th at 7:30 pm. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Sebastian’s on Wednesday, April 29th at 10:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, her family requests donations to the Sisters of Nazareth, 245 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael, CA 94903, and Hospice by the Bay, 17 E. Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Larkspur, CA 94939. Monte’s Chapel of the Hills San Anselmo, CA (415) 453-8440