Obituary for Maria Catherine Sullivan (Fedric)
Maria Catherine Fedric Sullivan ran to Jesus in the early morning hours of Saturday, October 21, 2023, after a courageous 8 ½ year battle with ovarian cancer. She was born on April 23, 1972, in Greenville, Mississippi, to Phil and Sharon Rose Fedric. She married the love of her life, Mark “Sully” Sullivan, on December 28, 1991. They were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Emily and Allison, who they raised to love the Lord and others well. She welcomed son-in-law Dillon into the family with open arms and took great joy in being MoMo to Drake and Brady.
Maria served as an educator for 25 years in El Dorado and Van Buren and was loved by her students and their parents alike. She was instrumental in building the Parents As Teachers program in Crawford County, equipping teen parents with the skills necessary to prepare their children for school and life. She also served as a special education consultant and liaison for the Van Buren School District. She was a member of the PEO International Sisterhood Service Organization whose purpose is to further educational opportunities for young women. As active members of Heritage Church, Maria and Sully have been deeply involved in and passionate about small groups ministry their entire marriage. She also enjoyed teaching Timothy Team and loving on the kids of Heritage.
Maria was best known for loving people well. Anyone who was blessed enough to meet Maria left a better person. She had a way of making everyone feel that they were the most important person in the room. She never forgot a birthday, and she always had the perfect gift. Special occasions were her specialty, and family gatherings were her favorite. If you needed a party planned, Maria was the one to call.
The hallmark of Maria’s life was her relationship with Jesus. Her faith was the cornerstone of everything she did. Throughout her cancer battle, her trust in God never wavered, and she continually pointed those around her to the hope of Jesus. Countless people have been impacted by the way Maria lived her life for Christ … and she is seeing some of those fruits now. Her faith is now her sight.
The family would like to express our deepest appreciation to the staff at Highlands Oncology who cared for Maria so beautifully and compassionately. She cared deeply for each and every one of you. You became her extended family and we are grateful for you.
Maria is survived by her husband of 31 years, Mark “Sully” Sullivan, daughter Emily Catherine Sullivan; daughter Allison Rae Waller (Dillon); grandsons Drake and Brady Waller; mother, Sharon Rose Fedric; sister, Felicia Gay (Ed); nephews William Gay (Cady); great-niece Florence Joy; Ryan Gay; uncle Bobby Fedric (Linda); cousin, Olivia Caskey (Jay); mother-in-law Nina Sullivan; brother-in-law Brad Sullivan (Jill); niece Bethany Sullivan; brother-in-law Wes Sullivan; niece Hayley Parsons (Jake); niece Caitlin Sullivan; sister-in-law Sarah Sartor; nieces Faith and Madison Sartor; nephew Bryce Sartor, and a host of other extended family. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Charles and Christine Boyt, grandparents Edward Mays and Wanda Fedric; father Phil Fedric; father-in-law Charles Sullivan; niece Hannah Joy Sullivan; and cousin’s grandson Kannon Wade Raymond.
Memorials in Maria’s honor may be made to the following:
While We’re Waiting Ministry to Bereaved Parents, PO Box 22823, Hot Springs, AR 71903 www.whilewerewaiting.org/donate
The Glory Girl Foundation, PO Box 8332, Van Buren, AR 72956
www.glorygirlfoundation.com/giving
Heritage Church Children’s Ministry,1604 Pointer Trail, Van Buren, AR 72956
www.heritage.church/give
River Valley Ovarian Cancer Alliance, PO Box 1133, Fort Smith, AR 72917
www.rivervalleyoca.com/contribute
Maria served as an educator for 25 years in El Dorado and Van Buren and was loved by her students and their parents alike. She was instrumental in building the Parents As Teachers program in Crawford County, equipping teen parents with the skills necessary to prepare their children for school and life. She also served as a special education consultant and liaison for the Van Buren School District. She was a member of the PEO International Sisterhood Service Organization whose purpose is to further educational opportunities for young women. As active members of Heritage Church, Maria and Sully have been deeply involved in and passionate about small groups ministry their entire marriage. She also enjoyed teaching Timothy Team and loving on the kids of Heritage.
Maria was best known for loving people well. Anyone who was blessed enough to meet Maria left a better person. She had a way of making everyone feel that they were the most important person in the room. She never forgot a birthday, and she always had the perfect gift. Special occasions were her specialty, and family gatherings were her favorite. If you needed a party planned, Maria was the one to call.
The hallmark of Maria’s life was her relationship with Jesus. Her faith was the cornerstone of everything she did. Throughout her cancer battle, her trust in God never wavered, and she continually pointed those around her to the hope of Jesus. Countless people have been impacted by the way Maria lived her life for Christ … and she is seeing some of those fruits now. Her faith is now her sight.
The family would like to express our deepest appreciation to the staff at Highlands Oncology who cared for Maria so beautifully and compassionately. She cared deeply for each and every one of you. You became her extended family and we are grateful for you.
Maria is survived by her husband of 31 years, Mark “Sully” Sullivan, daughter Emily Catherine Sullivan; daughter Allison Rae Waller (Dillon); grandsons Drake and Brady Waller; mother, Sharon Rose Fedric; sister, Felicia Gay (Ed); nephews William Gay (Cady); great-niece Florence Joy; Ryan Gay; uncle Bobby Fedric (Linda); cousin, Olivia Caskey (Jay); mother-in-law Nina Sullivan; brother-in-law Brad Sullivan (Jill); niece Bethany Sullivan; brother-in-law Wes Sullivan; niece Hayley Parsons (Jake); niece Caitlin Sullivan; sister-in-law Sarah Sartor; nieces Faith and Madison Sartor; nephew Bryce Sartor, and a host of other extended family. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Charles and Christine Boyt, grandparents Edward Mays and Wanda Fedric; father Phil Fedric; father-in-law Charles Sullivan; niece Hannah Joy Sullivan; and cousin’s grandson Kannon Wade Raymond.
Memorials in Maria’s honor may be made to the following:
While We’re Waiting Ministry to Bereaved Parents, PO Box 22823, Hot Springs, AR 71903 www.whilewerewaiting.org/donate
The Glory Girl Foundation, PO Box 8332, Van Buren, AR 72956
www.glorygirlfoundation.com/giving
Heritage Church Children’s Ministry,1604 Pointer Trail, Van Buren, AR 72956
www.heritage.church/give
River Valley Ovarian Cancer Alliance, PO Box 1133, Fort Smith, AR 72917
www.rivervalleyoca.com/contribute