Frances M. (Barnicle) Sullivan

Frances M. Sullivan (Barnicle) of Natick passed away peacefully on January 21, 2024. She was a lifelong resident of Natick. Born in 1933, she was the daughter of the late Francis E. and Lucinda K. (McManus) Barnicle. After graduating from Natick High School in 1951, Fran attended Boston University. Upon leaving BU, Fran began her long retail career at The Berkeley Store in Framingham as an assistant and then buyer of lingerie and sportswear. In 1957, she became a buyer of “corsets and uniforms” in Boston for The Gilchrist Co. and its five suburban branches.  While at Gilchrist’s, she was promoted to the head buyer of “foundations” and had the distinction of being the youngest head buyer in the country. She married David F. Sullivan of Boston in May 1959, and the couple started a family in 1960.

After raising her four children, Fran returned to the retail sector in the mid 1970’s and eventually purchased the last remaining branch of The Berkeley Store in Needham, MA.  After 25 years, Fran retired from the Berkeley Store but was still not done with the retail industry. She was a salesperson in the petites department at Talbot’s in Wellesley for 10+ years before “officially” retiring in 2013 at the age of 80. Fran was a woman of tireless energy and of great faith as she attended daily Mass at St. Patrick’s parish in Natick. She also enjoyed sewing, gardening, reading, cooking, and devouring the Boston Globe every morning from front to back.

In addition to her parents, “Frannie” is predeceased by her husband, David. She is survived by her only sibling, sister, Katherine (Kay) Triano of Chatham, NJ., her children, Michael D. Sullivan and his wife, Karen of East Hampstead, NH, Maureen C. Sullivan of Hampton, NH, Patricia A. Lamont and her husband, David of York, ME, James F. Sullivan and his wife, Marines of Campos Novos, Santa Caterina, Brazil; her grandchildren, Matthew Sullivan, Daniel and Courtney Lamont, Michelle and Carlos Palacio, and Nicholas Antonelli.  She made friends easily and was well loved by her many nieces and nephews, coworkers, and neighbors. 

Family and friends are invited to remember Fran’s life by gathering at John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street, Natick, on Monday, January 29, from 4 to 7 p.m., for calling hours. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Patrick’s Church on East Central Street in Natick, on Tuesday, January 30th at 10:00am, followed by Burial in St. Patrick’s Cemetery on Pond Street in Natick.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Fran’s memory may be made to Anna Jaques Hospital, 18 Highland Avenue, Newburyport MA 01950, Attn:  Mike McCarthy, VP Philanthropy. The family would like to extend its sincere thanks to the nursing team at Anna Jaques, who helped make Fran’s transition as dignified and peaceful as possible. Those second-floor nurses include Kayla, Mary Jo, Madi, Molly, Carol, Amy, and Lindsey, as well as Michael G. in the ER. We would also like to thank Fran’s caregivers at Merrimack Place - Life Guidance for their support and love, including Becky, JoAnn, Diane, Shelby, Michelle, Megan, Amy, and Sheila.

For online guestbook and directions: everettfuneral.com

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