Anne Marie (Sullivan) Schlesselmann

Anne Marie Sullivan Schlesselmann, of Marin County, CA, went home to heaven to be with her heavenly Father on October 10, 2024. Anne Marie was the 5th child born to Dr. James McGeough Sullivan and Mary Marguerite Fenn Sullivan on April 2, 1930 in San Francisco, California. 

After attending the Convent of Sacred Heart High School, she attended Lone Mountain College for women in San Francisco and graduated with a degree in teaching. In 1953, Anne Marie married Herman Schlesselmann and together they raised their family of five children.  
From 1966, she was an active member of St. Sebastian’s Church in Kentfield, CA. Anne Marie was known to have a “servant heart” by all who knew her. She brought communion to the sick at the local hospital, and helped with seasonal decorating of the church. Anne Marie also served at the Nazareth House in San Rafael, by bringing the residents to their appointments and grocery shopping. Anne Marie could be found always recruiting her children to help make and deliver meals for the infirmed and those in crisis. Her extended family and neighbors were also grateful recipients of her help and encouragement throughout the years. She never forgot a birthday or an anniversary in her family demonstrating her love for each one. In her latter years, she loved reading a good novel, working 500 piece puzzles, working her flower garden, and often watching a good movie in the evening. Her favorite ways to relax were spending summer time at “Uncle Charlie’s cabin” in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and eating coffee ice cream in the sun! 

Anne Marie is preceded in death by her husband Herman of 54 years(2007), her son Stephen (2014), her brothers and sisters-in-laws James Sullivan, Vincent and Jacqueline Sullivan, Mary Aloyse and Peter Smith, and Joan Sullivan. 
She is survived by her children Barbara (John-the father of her children) Purcell, Carolyn (James) Todd, Msgr. Gregory Schlesselmann, and John (Lisa) Schlesselmann. Grandchildren include Ian Todd, Shawn (Brittany) Todd, Michael (Ali) Schlesselmann, Patrick Schlesselmann, Sheila(Jason) Gresehover, Mary (Ryan) Finley, Liam (Ashley) Purcell, John Purcell, and Elizabeth (Simon-the father of her daughter) Purcell-Bean. Great-grandchildren include: Evie, Sophia, Isaac, Luke, Mia, David, Liam, Addyson, Grayson, Lucy, Kate Annemarie and Una. 

Anne Marie lived her life modeling the Scripture passage in which Jesus says “The King will answer and say to them, ‘assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ “(Matthew 25:40)

The family would like to thank all the loving staff at Wood Glen Senior Living in Santa Barbara, including June, Lupe, Carla, Maria, Ricky, and Alex for their wonderful care of Anne Marie over the past three and a half years! 

The funeral Mass will take place on Friday, October 18, 2024 at 11:00 am in St. Sebastian’s Church, Kentfield, CA. The Rosary will precede the funeral Mass at 10:30 am, and a reception will follow in St. Sebastian’s parish hall. Burial will take place at 3:00 pm at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, CA.

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