Obituary: Alice V. (Sullivan) Cumming, 85, Of Danbury

Information and Photo Courtesy Green Funeral Home

DANBURY, CT — Alice V. (Sullivan) Cumming, age 85 of Danbury, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family after a brief but brave battle with cancer.

Alice was raised in Redding, the fourth child of eight children to John and Margaret (Whelan) Sullivan. Shortly after being married in 1959 she moved to Massachusetts to raise her family. In 1974 Alice began a successful career at New England Nuclear-DuPont, becoming a much loved manager of her division. Soon after retiring in 1997 she returned to Connecticut to care for her mother in her final years.

A deeply spiritual person, Alice gave quietly and humbly of herself to others. She was forever opening her home and heart to those in need, even during times when life was challenging for her. She never made the wrong choice when asking herself, “what would Jesus do?” She had a sharp wit and pulled no punches, calling the shots up until her very last days with humor and grace.

Alice had a beautiful singing voice and in later years revealed that she had always wanted to be a Broadway performer.

Alice instilled a great deal of strength and pride in her children and grandchildren, reminding them to have faith that everything will always happen as it should and to lead a life full of kindness and compassion and staying strong and always remain true to themselves. She was loved and cherished by so many. We will miss her humor, her wisdom and her unwavering love and support deeply and forever.

Alice is survived and remembered with love by her children, Colleen and her husband Stephen Potvin of Andover, MA and Jon of Lyons, CO , her grandchildren, Evan Gervais and his wife Amanda and Mollie Maturah of Andover MA, Aidan O’Donnell and his wife Annie of Dracut MA, and six great-grandchildren, Isabella, Cole and Naya Gervais and Lilyanna, Charlotte, and Elijah O’Donnell.

In addition to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Alice is survived by her sisters Kathleen Sullivan Mandato, and Helen Tracy with whom she shared her home, and Peggy Dyer of Danbury, along with her nieces and nephews Bernice and Harold Hawley, Beth and Rich Hawley, Billy Knowles, Michael and Sheila Tracy, Kerry and Patty Dyer, Brendan and Elaine Dyer, Brian Tompkins, along with numerous grand and great nieces and nephews. She will also be missed by her friends Michelle and Ivy, who lovingly referred to her as LaLa.

She was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Michael and John, sisters Clarita and Betty-Ann, brothers-in-law Bill Knowles, Don Crudgington, Hugh Dyer, and Al Tracy, niece Patty Tompkins and great nephew Christopher Tompkins; former husband John Cumming, and sons-in-law John O’Donnell and Phillip Gervais.

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers are requested to be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105