Nancy Sullivan Mortensen

Nancy Sullivan Mortensen passed away peacefully on Friday, Dec. 30, 2016 in the home she loved and shared with her husband Bill, surrounded by her family. She was 82. Born July 7, 1934 in Park Ridge, Illinois, she was the daughter of John and Dorothy Sullivan, one of six children.

Upon graduating from University of Colorado and earning her teaching degree, she moved to California in 1956 with her sister Patricia. She taught preschool and lived in Brentwood.

She met her husband Bill in 1957. They shared an easy conversation over the phone and when it was time to say goodbye, Nancy asked Bill to stop by sometime soon to introduce himself. He wasted no time and came over immediately! They dated from that point on and within a few months, became engaged.

Married Jan. 3, 1959, they just celebrated 58 years of a blessed union. They had six children. Their oldest son, Bill, was killed in a car accident with two of his friends when traveling home on Sunset. He was 17 years old.

They have lived in the Palisades for 54 years. Their first home was located on Via de la Paz. It was there they met several young families like themselves, and those friendships remain today. After 10 years on Via, they moved to a larger home in the Huntington Palisades, to accommodate their growing family. It is where they reside today, and have always considered themselves so fortunate to live and raise a family in this remarkable community.

Nancy’s role was homemaker and mother. She excelled at both. Nancy is known for her strong faith in God, her courage, tenacity, loyalty, and deep love for her husband, family and friends. She was a devout Catholic, and regularly attended mass at Saint Monica’s and Corpus Christi.

Nancy is survived by her loving husband Bill, five children—Mary, Tom and wife Michelle, David, Anne and husband Russ, and Peter and wife Simona—and nine grandchildren: Brenden, Nickolas, Bill, Grace, Abby, Rose, Maggie, Lola and Nathan.

She is preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, oldest son William S. Mortensen, and her grandson, Joseph Patrick Allegrette, who took wings on the day he was born.