Arlene L. Park

Arlene L. Sullivan was born March 24^th, 1931. Arlene was the only child born to Arthur and Lucille Sullivan. She was born in Detroit Michigan and she was raised in the Catholic Church.  The family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida where she grew up and graduated from St. Pete High School.

She began her career as a registered nurse by attending her nursing training at Mound Park Hospital in St. Petersburg. On October 5^th 1950, she was secretly married to the love her life George Park who was returning home from WWII and the U.S. Marines. The marriage was forbidden by the nursing school while Arlene was attending nursing school. Soon after the marriage, George was recalled back into the Marine Corps for the Korean War. Upon returning home, then Registered Nurse Arlene Park traveled with George to Gainesville and the University of Florida. While George continued his education, Arlene was employed as a registered nurse in a position at the student clinic on the campus of the University of Florida.  

Along came the first born son Rusty and four and a half years later, a daughter Sandra. The family moved to North Carolina so George could attend Duke University Divinity School. Arlene was hired by Duke Hospital and through her hard work and professionalism, was promoted to the Head Nurse of OBGYN. After her husband graduated from Duke University and was ordained as a Methodist minister, the family moved to Milton, Florida.

In Milton, Florida, Arlene continued her nursing career working as a RN at a local nursing home and for the State of Florida as a Public Health Nurse. Arlene also taught nursing for several years. After Andrew the third child was born, Arlene stayed home to be a full time mom enjoying a number of activities.

Arlene was an exceptional mother and raised three professional children, Rusty who retired after 35 years in law enforcement, Sandy a Registered Nurse Practitioner and Director of a Public Health Department nearing retirement after 35 years of service and the youngest Andrew, who is mid career as a Quality Engineer with GE Medical.

Arlene was the President of the Methodist Women’s Society at the First Methodist Church of Milton and at Asbury United Methodist in Orange Park. Arlene loved to cook as well and was one of the best. She cared for her aging mother Lucille until her passing. She was a lover of all animals, especially feeding the birds and squirrels that frequented her back yards.

In 1974, George’s career brought the family to the Orange Park, Florida area. After the last child left the nest, Arlene put her nursing skills back to work as she served as a volunteer at Orange Park Medical Center in the ICU for well over a decade. After both she and George retired full time, they moved to the Penney Farms Retirement Community. Arlene volunteered in the re-sale store, at the Hagen Memory Care Facility, as a Hospice volunteer, and in various other volunteer positions within the Penney Farms Community. After 11 years in independent living, Arlene and George moved into Beyer House Assisted Living Facility.

In May of 2018 after 68 years of marriage the love of her life, George passed away. In March of 2021 during a lull in the pandemic, Arlene celebrated her 90^th birthday with her family at her oldest grandson’s farm in Middleburg, Florida. Afterwards that evening, she noted it was the one of best days of her life getting to spend the day with all her family, having some of her favorite foods and being around and enjoying all animals on the farm.  

In June of 2021 Arlene transitioned from the Beyer House Assisted Living facility to the Pavilion for Health Care at Penney Farms. On Thursday October 22, 2021 Arlene departed this earth to be with the Lord and reunite with the rest of her family who have departed this earth before her. What a wonderful homecoming it will be.  

Arlene is survived by her three children Rusty, Sandy and Andrew; their spouse’s daughters-in-love, Denise, Edie and with her son-in-love Colin. Arlene is also survived by her three grandchildren Aaron, his spouse granddaughter-in-love Dawn, Bethany and Ian. Arlene is also survived by two great grandchildren Kyle and Kayla.

Services will be held at the Penney Memorial Church on November 13^th, 2021 at 2:30pm.