Theresa Ann (Cutrone) Sullivan

Theresa Ann (Cutrone) Sullivan passed away on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at 1:40 am, surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Thomas Denis Sullivan, who passed away in 2021. She was also predeceased by her siblings Sally, Joe, Mike, Dottie and Angelo.

Theresa was called “Tessie” by her family growing up, but she preferred “Terry.” Her biggest fans, however, called her “Hon,” “Mom,” “Grandma” and “Gigi.” She leaves behind seven adoring and adored children: Deb Bonné, Lynn Sullivan (Rob Goldfinger), Kevin Sullivan (Marie), Diane Holmes (Steve Jones), Danny Sullivan (Michelle), Kathleen Sullivan (Debbie Mangum) and Maureen Ptasinski (Dave). She was exceptionally proud of her 18 grandchildren: Daniel, Lea (Mike), Jackie (Kevin), Jason (Caroline), Zach (Michelle), Joanna (Joe), Tessa (Nate), Katie (Bill), Matt, Tim (Autumn), Jessica (Joey), Josh (Ali), Ben (Caroline), Jamie, Justin, Paige (Jake), Allison (Alex), and Michael, and her step-grandchild, Hailey. Terry was most happy with a baby in her arms, and joyfully welcomed the arrival of her 18 great-grandchildren over the past few years. She is also survived by her brother Al and many nieces and nephews.

Born on November 27, 1931, Terry was one of seven children born to Anna and Francis Cutrone, Italian immigrants who moved to the US and settled in Brooklyn, NY. She would later tell her children that in her youth, her family’s modest holiday celebrations included oranges and other fruit in Christmas stockings and not traditional gifts. When she had her own family, Christmastime was Terry’s favorite time of year.

Terry began working in her late teens at the Max Berman Lumber Yard in Queens, NY. She enjoyed socializing with friends and going out “on the town”, as she liked to call it. On one such night she met a handsome Navy sailor at a dance hall. They danced for hours, and at the end of the night, he dropped her off at her family’s front door in Brooklyn, telling her, “One day, I’m going to marry you.”

He was right.

Tom and Terry Sullivan married in 1953. Over the next several years, they moved from Brooklyn to Queens to Long Island, where they raised their family of seven kids. They made certain their children knew that family comes first, hard work is valued and valuable, and that laughter was essential. Theirs was a happy and busy home, with Terry largely working as a homemaker while Tom was a union electrician. They continued to enjoy their love of dancing together and often cleared the floor when at weddings and other gatherings. They balanced each other well: Tom had a gregarious and lively personality and Terry had a more reserved, nurturing demeanor. She was the sweet to his salty.

Countless neighborhood kids and school friends paraded through the Sullivan house for years, enjoying Terry’s homemade dinners and desserts. She opened her home and her heart, often providing sensible advice for her children’s teenage friends while slicing them a piece of her famous Moroccan Pound cake, or her apple or lemon meringue pie. Christmas was a wonderful time at their home, with the smell of Terry’s homemade pizza and desserts filling the air as family and friends dropped by the house on Christmas Eve.

As their children got older, Terry pined for a more rural vista, and the couple moved to Webster, NY, where together, they built a log cabin and lived a quieter life near some of their children. Several years later, they moved to the Villages in Lady Lake, Florida, joining friends who enjoyed the social and golfing life there. After a few years however, Terry missed her children and grandchildren, and in 2001 the couple settled in North Carolina to be near family once again.

Terry was truly the heart of her family. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren gravitated to her to share stories, enjoy meals with her, and spend time with her as she settled in to watch Netflix using voice commands (“Alexandra, turn on Longmire.”) She radiated an incomparable warmth and love, laughing often, and worrying more about her family members than herself, even as her physical ailments began to get the best of her.

Her kids want her to be remembered for these simple things: 1. Her absolute, perfect love for her family. 2. Her appreciation for and interest in nature, birds and animals. 3. Her belief that good homemade food makes life richer and equates to love. 4. Her lifelong appreciation for all things chocolate. 5. Her penchant for proverbs: “Time heals all wounds.” “Beggars can’t be choosers.” 6. Lastly, her signature Liz Claiborne perfume, which she applied sparingly but mindfully each day. “Everything in moderation,” she would remind us.

Terry had no favorite charities, but she loved children and would appreciate that any planned donations in her memory go to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Mom, Grandma, Gigi, we miss you terribly, and we love you dearly.

A memorial service will be held at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, November 18, 2023, in the Chapel of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Raleigh.

Funeral arrangements are by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Raleigh. Online condolences may be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com