Lynne A. Sullivan, 56, of Hudson

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Obit Lynne A. SullivanHudson – Lynne Ann (Trocchi) Sullivan, 56, of Hudson, died Sunday, June 26, 2016, surrounded by her loving family, at her home in Hudson.

Lynne leaves her beloved husband of 20 years, Kevin Sullivan, and was the loving mother of Abigail Sullivan, Cara Sullivan, and Lauren Sullivan. She also is survived by her siblings, Robert Trocchi, Nancy (Trocchi) Belanger, and William Trocchi, along with many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was the daughter of the late Robert and Virginia (Benson) Trocchi.

Lynne Sullivan’s spirit and kindness will carry well beyond her 56 years as family, friends and co-workers bore witness to a life dedicated to putting others before herself. She passed away peacefully after being cared for in her final days by her loving husband and three daughters, who lived out Lynne’s example of selflessness in the most difficult of circumstances.

Lynne spent her early childhood adjusting to new environments. She moved four times and lived in three states by age 12. After moving to Minneapolis from Massachusetts in 1969, her teachers wanted to send her to a speech therapist. Upon learning that it was simply a Massachusetts accent they were hearing, the teachers waived the request and learned to love an accent that never left her. In 1972, her family settled in Sudbury, Mass., with Lynne the oldest of a four-child family. She graduated from Lincoln-Sudbury in 1977, and then attended the University of Maine for two years before transferring to Boston University. She graduated from B.U. in 1981 and immediately embarked upon a career as an occupational therapist.

Lynne worked at Cushing Hospital in Framingham, then the Gaebler’s Children’s Center in Waltham from 1984-92. When Gaebler’s closed, Lynne was hired at UMass state hospital’s Adolescent Continuing Care Unit at Westborough State, where she became the Director of Rehabilitation in 2008. (The hospital has since moved to Worcester State).

It was at UMass where she flourished, working hard to create activities and outings for up to 30 emotionally disturbed adolescents. The goal was to develop in her patients necessary life-skills to get them back functioning in the “real” world. This included setting up an in-house store where patients were responsible for greeting customers, selling, and tracking inventory and making change. She also set up community events, trips to libraries and vocational groups as she used her drive and professional training to help those less fortunate than herself. She was awarded the Deb Jansenns Award from UMass in 2014 for her outstanding work as the Director of Rehabilitation.

Lynne met Kevin in 1994 through friends at the hospital, and the two married two years later in Maynard. They were a couple deeply dedicated to one another as they navigated opposite work schedules for years. Abigail and Cara were born while the family lived in Maynard, then Lauren was born in 2000 just two months after the family settled in Hudson.

It was clear Lynne’s family meant everything to her as she involved herself in as many activities as her professional life would allow. Lynne was a room-parent for her elementary-aged children, participated in the mother-daughter book club at the library, taught CCD at Saint Michael’s Parish for all three children and helped out with youth soccer teams.

The family enjoyed summer camping trips in northern New England with extended family and friends and was able to visit grandparents in Florida. Lynne cherished Sullivan and Trocchi family get-togethers as cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles enjoyed each other’s company.

Sports were a consistent presence in Lynne’s life. She was a gymnast at Lincoln-Sudbury and Maine, and then developed a passion for running after college. She completed the 1994 Boston Marathon and competed in multiple triathlons. Her children have all earned multiple varsity letters at Hudson High. She also followed the Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots throughout her life and once worked at Fenway Park as a vendor. Lynne would often sweep the kitchen floor in the late stages of a tight Patriots or Red Sox game, the tension too much to bear.

Those that knew Lynne best always felt they could come to her for counsel in difficult times. She spent much of her life helping others and being an example for all that knew her – family, friends, co-workers, and patients. Lynne was humble, never took herself too seriously, was always ready for a challenge and had a work ethic inherited from her father that drove her during her successful career.

Lynne’s family, extended family, and friends demonstrated their appreciation of her kindness during her battle with cancer. In that way, her legacy was being passed on in the present, as others gave more examples of how to put others before themselves.

Lynne’s was a life that ended too soon, but one that will be remembered and honored through those that she touched.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, June 30, at 9 a.m., in Saint Michael’s Church, 21 Manning St., Hudson. Burial services will be held privately at a later date in Forestvale Cemetery of Hudson. Family and friends may attend calling hours on Wednesday, June 29, from 4-8 p.m., at the Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home (www.tighehamilton.com), 50 Central St., Hudson.

A college fund for Lynne’s children has been established, and gifts in lieu of flowers may be made at http://go.fidelity.com/ckuq or to Fidelity Investments, Attn: 618975956, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 770001.

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