Mary Louise Sullivan Fraser

Mary Louise Sullivan Fraser, recently of Shaker Heights, OH passed away on February 18.  Mary was born in Niagara Falls, NY to Thomas and Florence (Robinson) Sullivan.

She was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School and went on to earn a Registered Nurse degree from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, Buffalo, NY in 1960.  Following her vocation to serve her community and further her education, Mary received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC in 1963 and then continued on to the University of New York at Buffalo to earn her Master of Science in Nursing in 1967.  Her Master’s thesis, “Effectiveness of Nurse-Patient Interactions in Promotion of a Therapeutic Environment,” was indicative of her desire to help and support those around her.  Mary had a long career in health care and education, first teaching nursing at D’Youville College and Niagara University.  Later, Mary worked for Health Association of Niagara County in Home Health Care, and then Mercy Home Health Care of Western New York, as teacher and director of home health care in Niagara County.  She retired from her nursing education career after teaching at Niagara County Community College.

After her marriage to Robert Fraser of Niagara Falls in 1967, Mary and Bob made a long, loving life for themselves and their children in Youngstown, NY, where they were long-time members of St. Bernard Roman Catholic Church. 

A lifelong, voracious reader and amazing casserole maker, Mary enjoyed spending time with the friends she made over her long life, whether her classmates from high school, nursing school, her dear neighbors on Brookshire, or those made at the valued summer trips to Muskoka, ON. 

Mary left her beloved WNY and moved to Shaker Heights in 2017 to spend more time with her family, especially her grandchildren.  She graced many sidelines, audiences, and holiday gatherings from Shaker Heights to Cincinnati cheering on her grandchildren, which brought her so much joy.  She was very proud of her grandchildren and would declare them all “exceptionally talented” to anyone in earshot.  

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Florence (Robinson) Sullivan, her brother, Francis Sullivan, sister-in-law, Judith (Kaltz) Sullivan, and her husband of thirty-six years, Dr. Robert D. Fraser. 

She is survived by her three children and their spouses, Thomas and Diane (Michutka) Fraser, Mary Beth and Michael Connolly, and Christine and Peter Bernhard, as well as six grandchildren, William and Sophia Bernhard, Grace, Katharine, Madeleine, and Megan Fraser. She is also survived by her two nephews, Jonathan and Nathan Sullivan.

Visitation on SATURDAY, March 4th from 12-1PM at St. Bernard Church, 218 Hinman St, Youngstown, NY, Mass of Christian Burial follows at 1PM.

In lieu of flowers, please remember Mary by donating to Youngstown Free Library or the Sisters of St. Francis Development Fund, 4421 Lower River Rd, Stella Niagara, NY 14144.

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