Mary O'Sullivan, age 91, of Atlanta, Georgia passed away Sunday, January 21, 2024. Mary was born on June 5, 1932 in Gneevgullia, County Kerry Ireland, the daughter of Dennis Looney and Mary (Minnie) Cronin Looney.
Mary immigrated to the US in 1951 when she was just 19 years old. In 1957, she married Bill O'Sullivan and they spent their early marriage in the Bronx. In 1959, they welcomed daughter Maureen and moved to Suffern, New York, adding daughter Deirdre (Dede) and son Dennis to the family. In 1963, Bill's job with Western Electric brought them to the growing suburbs of Atlanta, first to Decatur, then to Sandy Springs, where they became early members of St. Jude Church, the community Mary considered her spiritual home and where daughter Joanne was born. Mary loved St. Jude's and her neighborhood, Spalding Woods, where she and Bill bought the first lot. She made many lifelong friendships in both places.
Mary was an active member of the church, serving in a variety of volunteer roles. All four O'Sullivan children went to St. Jude the Apostle Elementary. When Bill died suddenly in 1982, the community sustained her. She moved to Windward, Alpharetta, in 1989. In 2006, Mary married Bob Perez, a fellow parishioner who had lost his wife, Mary.
An avid gardener, Mary loved working on her yard, which won accolades and admiration. Her love of helping people led her to a career at Northside Hospital, where she worked as a patient representative for 20 years, offering warmth and comfort to patients and their families. Here, she also made many lifelong friendships. She continued volunteering through Meals on Wheels for many years.
Mary was a people person. All who met her recognized her warmth and her Irish "gift of gab." She had a keen fashion sense and loved to travel, read, and learn new things. Mary kept her ties to Ireland through connections with the Irish community in Atlanta and staying close to her beloved sisters and brother. She adored her many nieces and nephews and her grandchildren and extended family. Most of all, she cherished her faith.
Along with her parents, Mary is preceded in death by her husbands, Bill O'Sullivan and Bob Perez, as well as her sisters Bridie, Joan, Eileen, Kathy, and Margaret, and brother, Jimmy. She is survived by her four children: Maureen (Chris) of Atlanta; Dede (Joe) of Athens, Dennis (Betsy) of Atlanta, and Joanne (Andrew) of Asheville, NC; and her sister, Sr. Mary Ita Looney of Mallow, County Cork, Ireland, nine grandchildren, and many friends.
Mary's visitation will take place from 5 to 7 pm, Thursday, January 25, 2024 at the Northside Chapel at 12050 Crabapple Rd. Roswell, Georgia, with the saying of the rosary from 6:30 to 7 pm. The funeral mass to honor Mary's life will be held at 10:30 am, Friday, January 26 at St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church, 11330 Woodstock Rd, Roswell, GA, with a family-only graveside ceremony to follow at Arlington Cemetery, 201 Mount Vernon Hwy, Sandy Springs, GA.
Please visit www.northsidechapel.com to share memories and leave condolences to the family.