Florita Sullivan

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Florita Tejada Sullivan, age 88, died June 16th, 2023, at Beaumont Medical Center in Royal Oak, Michigan.  She was born December 26th, 1934, in Kalibo, Aklan in the Philippines to Salvador and Flora Tejada Peralta.  Visitation will be on Wednesday, June 28 from 4:00PM - 8:00PM with a Rosary Service beginning at 7:00 pm at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory in Urbandale, Iowa.  A Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, June 29th at 10:00AM at St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines.   Following the mass there will be a grave side service at Highland Memory Gardens.

Florita earned a Degree from University of Santo Thomas in Pharmacy 1955 and practiced pharmacy in the Philippines from 1956 to 1959.  She came to Des Moines in 1959 as a Foreign Exchange student to study Medical Technology at Broadlawns Hospital where she earned her degree in Medical Technology.   While studying in the US she met her husband, John. They were married for 60 years until John passed away in 2021.  Florita was proud to become a naturalized US Citizen in 1970.

Florita started her career in Medical Technology working at Broadlawns until 1966 and then at Dr. Denser office working part time and raising her three boys.   She then worked at Northwest/Charter Hospital starting in 1972 until it closed in 1987.  She continued her career at VA hospital (1988) and retired from the VA Medical Center in 2004.

Florita loved to cook for her friends and family and prepared many Filipino favorites for all occasions.   Music was her passion from a young age and played the piano nearly every day. She took up painting after retirement and was an excellent painter and won several awards.  During her retirement with John she traveled the world to over 25 countries.  She also participated in many organizations and clubs and was a proud member of the Filipino-American Association of Iowa working to help with the Foreign Food Fair, annual parties, and cultural events.  She cherished the friendships she made through her work, travel, and hobbies.

Florita was preceded in death by her husband John Sullivan, son Patrick Sullivan, her parents Salvador and Flora Tejada Peralta and her brothers Victor Peralta and Junior Peralta.   Florita is survived by her two sons, Frederick and Jeffrey Sullivan (Tammy Seidell), her granddaughters Madeline Sullivan, Katherine (Andrew Lu) Sullivan, Mary Sullivan, and Jacky Sullivan (Matt Donovan), great-granddaughter Reina Lu, her brothers Ernesto Peralta, Juancito (Nelly) Peralta, Bonifacio (Nenita) Peralta, Sister-in-law Ester (Victor) Peralta.  She is also survived by nieces Janie (Jim) Wine, Mary (Todd) Obrien and nephews Tom (Molly) Sullivan, and Jack (Linda) Sullivan. She is also survived by Bernadette (Jay) Plaza, Jonathan (Lynde) Peralta, Geo (Cavi) Peralta, Benedict Peralta Perata, Mark Peralta, Lewis (Myra) Peralta, Lawrence (Emily), Eda Peralta, Edwin Peralta Karl (Celine) Peralta and Shelia (David) Chazez.

The family would like to invite you to a luncheon following the burial at Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano, 5990 University Ave, West Des Moines, Iowa.