February 22, 2018
Mercy Sister Rosemary Sullivan died in Burlingame Jan. 21 at the age of 90. Born in San Francisco, she attended St. Peter High School, staffed by the Sisters of Mercy. Upon graduation from high school in 1945, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in Burlingame and professed vows in 1948.
Sister Rosemary taught at schools including St Catherine of Siena, Burlingame and St. Peter, San Francisco. Sister Rosemary also taught science at Mercy High School, Burlingame for 13 years. She earned a doctorate in microbiology from the University of Notre dame in 1970.
In 1974 Sister Rosemary was elected her congregation’s Superior General, a position she completed in 1981 then joining Catholic Healthcare West. She also served as interim principal of Mercy High School, San Francisco for a year then remaining in that office to assist until 2015.
Survivors include her sisters Shirley Buswell of Bend, Oregon, and Hazel Butticci, of Concord.
A funeral Mass was celebrated at Mercy Convent Chapel Feb. 5 with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma.
Remembrances may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 2300 Adeline Drive, Burlingame 94010.