Virginia Sullivan

Mullen, NE – Virginia Sullivan age 89 of Mullen, passed away September 26, 2023, at Great Plains Health in North Platte, NE.

Funeral Services for Virginia Sullivan will be held on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at 10:30 am MT at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mullen. A Rosary will be held on Friday, September 29th at 7:00 pm at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mullen. The burial will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery at Thedford, NE. Memorials are suggested to the family for a later designation. Mullen Funeral Home/Govier Brothers Mortuary are in charge of arrangements. An online guest book may be signed at www.govierbrothers.com.  

Aleita Virginia Boren was born December 22, 1933, to Cornelious Lee and Mary Elizabeth (Wyatt) Boren in Halsey, Nebraska.  She was the 6th of 8 children.  She attended school at the Halsey Schools, graduating in 1951. She was love, light, laughter, and encouragement. Virginia faced so many challenges and never realized how many lives she made better. Virginia passed away at Great Plains Medical Center on September 26th at the age of 89.  

Virginia was hardworking from an early age and throughout her life. Her first job was babysitting for two children when she was 9 years old in Bremerton, Washington while parents worked in the shipyards during World War II. At age 12 she went to work washing dishes at the Halsey Cafe and later waited tables.  In high school and a couple of years after marriage she worked in the nursery at the Halsey National Forest.  Virginia married Don Sullivan in Mullen on June 16th, 1952, and had four children - David, Mary Ann, Donalee and Dennis. 

Virginia’s true calling in life was caring for people.  She applied for a job at the Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home when it was being built and started working before the doors were open for residents.  Following her divorce, she worked several years as an aide before taking a year to become a Licensed Practical Nurse through the program in Kearney. She balanced kids, college, and every weekend she traveled home to work shifts at the nursing home.   Her career at the nursing home was over 47 years and in that time, she also worked at the Mullen Clinic and Mullen Hospital.  In her nursing career she was known for the compassion and respect she had for her patients and families. 

Virginia loved to garden, work in her yard, crochet, and bake. She was an MHS fan of the year when her grandchildren were in high school. She loved surprising people with an unexpected kindness which could range anywhere from “My, you look beautiful today.” to an anonymous cash donation to someone in need. Her family can attest to her memorable sense of humor.  She loved all her family but in most recent years delighted in the time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents Lee and Mary Boren, siblings Jesse and wife Kathy, Robert, Minnie and husband, Ken Troth, Laurella and husband, Jim McHugh, Mary Lea and husband, Alvin Standlea, and sister Bessie, son-in-law, Marv Carlock and several nieces and nephews. 

Left to share memories of her are children and families - David and Catherine Sullivan, Alana, Patrick, Melissa, Kaylen, Carter, and Calvin, Donalee and Bill Barner, Trevor and Kaylee Barner, Roarke and Ramsey, Cami and Eddie O’Brien, John and Sully, Mary Ann Carlock, and Dennis and Denise Sullivan and Brodie.