Thomas M. Sullivan

Thomas M. Sullivan, 78, of Frackville, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, January 3rd surrounded by his loving wife and children, leaving behind a legacy that is woven into the very fabric of the community he loved and served for five decades.

Born in the former Locust Mountain Hospital in Shenandoah, he was a son of the late Michael and Mary (Corrigan) Sullivan.

Tom was a 1965 graduate of the former Shenandoah Catholic High School. Following graduation, he spent a year at St. Charles Seminary. After realizing that the seminary was not his calling—an insight sparked while watching nurses at Lankenau Hospital sleigh riding during a snowstorm—Tom’s path soon took a different direction.

He was drafted into the United States Army in 1967 and proudly served two years in Vietnam. Following his military service, Tom decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and enter the funeral profession, joking that he already had the black suits from the seminary. At a Halloween party in 1969, Tom met the love of his life, Ellen, while playing the board game, Pass Out.  June 5, 1971, Tom took his first heart attack or at least that's the date he would tell his doctors while he would joke about that being his date of their wedding. They spent 54 wonderful years together!

Tom attended St. Francis College in Allentown, where he earned his associate degree. He then went on to graduate from the McAllister Institute of Mortuary Science in New York in 1972. In 1976, Tom and Ellen returned to Frackville, where they purchased the former Robert F. Hoppes Funeral Home, continuing a family tradition of service to the community.

Tom was a devout Catholic and a lifelong member of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Frackville, where he faithfully served for 50 years as a Eucharistic Minister. He could always be found flipping “bleenies” at the annual parish festival as well. He was also an active member of the Frackville American Legion Post 398, Frackville Elks BPOE 1533, Knights of Columbus Council 2580 and the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, Pottsville, the former Frackville Jaycees, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Jack Kehoe Division #1 of Girardville. Tom generously gave his time and leadership by serving on numerous boards, including the St. Joseph Parish Financial Committee and the Cardinal Brennan High School Advisory Board, always working quietly behind the scenes for the good of his community.

For 50 years, Tom dedicated his life to his calling as a funeral director in Frackville. It was never just a profession to him—it was a ministry of compassion. He comforted countless families during their most difficult moments, offering not only guidance and professionalism, but genuine empathy, warmth, and understanding. His ability to ease pain with kindness—and often with perfectly timed humor—touched more hearts than he would ever admit.

A true Frackville landmark, Tom was known for his handsome presence, quick wit, and unmistakable sarcasm. He could make anyone laugh, even on the hardest of days. A gifted storyteller, he often joked that if he ever wrote a book about his life and funeral directing, he would have to classify it as “fiction” because no one would believe it. His children will fondly remember his one liners of “Yes Dear, I’ve been kicked out of better places, and It seemed like a good idea at the time” (referring to having five children, which ironically one of us was born 9 months after an Elks event).

Proudly Irish, stubborn in the best way, and strong-willed to the core, he lived life on his own terms. He was deeply faithful, churchgoing and was loving of God, Country and Notre Dame. He enjoyed a cigarette and a Dewar’s or a Rusty Nail, always paired with good conversation and laughter. Above all else, he loved people—truly and without condition.

Tom was a pillar of the Frackville community, a man of integrity, humor, faith, and uncommon compassion. His absence will be deeply felt, but his legacy will live on in the many lives he touched, the families he supported, and the stories that will continue to be told for generations.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Ellen (Simodejka) Sullivan, of Frackville. He was the devoted father of five children: Thomas B. Sullivan and his wife, Melinda, of Huntingdon; Tara Campton and her husband, Tom, of Boiling Springs; Trisha Przyuski and her husband, John, of Center Valley; Tammy Murphy and her husband, Steve, of Dillsburg; and Timothy M. Sullivan and his wife, Brandy, of Fountain Springs.

He is also survived by a sister, Patricia Giuliani and her husband, Max, of St. Augustine, Florida, and a brother, Michael Sean Sullivan and his wife, Geoff, of Palm Coast, Florida.

Tom was a proud grandfather to his ten loving grandchildren: Ryan, Aaron, Evan, Mason, Grace, Jack, Declan, Liam, Rylee, and Molly. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 12th, at 11:00 a.m., from St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 49 North Line Street, Frackville, with Monsignor William F. Glosser as celebrant and con-celebrants Fr. Guency Isaac, Fr. Brian Miller, Fr. Giuseppe Esposito, Fr. Edward Connolly, Fr. Robert Finlan, and Fr. Adam Sedar.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing on Sunday, January 11th at St. Joseph the Worker Parish from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., and again on Monday, January 12th from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.

Interment with military honors will be held in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Englewood section of Frackville.

He was deeply touched by the love and support of so many. In accordance with his wishes, flowers are reserved around the casket from his children and wife only. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations/checks be made payable to the “Thomas M. Sullivan Scholarship” and sent to the funeral home at 501 W. Washington Street, Frackville, PA 17931.

Sign the guestbook, leave personal condolences and for further information, please visit www.thomasmsullivanfuneralhome.com

Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home Inc., Timothy M. Sullivan, FD is in charge of the arrangements.