Sue was born in Harrisonburg, VA., in 1948. She died peacefully in the hospital on 21 March 2025 after an extended stay.
As a child, she was a quiet girl, but in high school her outgoing, happy, loving spirit came out. She sang in the choir, participated in school musicals and plays and was a friend to many. She was Miss Victory and a spirited member and Vice President of the Pep Club. It was here that she met and courted a captain of the football team, her future husband, Tom. While waiting for him to finish college, she worked in retail and as the cashier for Alfred
Neys clothing store. She and Tom were married June 21st, 1970. Shortly thereafter they moved to Newport News VA where she became a loving mother to Andy and proud NASA wife.
She was an active volunteer. While Andy was in elementary school, she was a room mother, member of the PTA, teacher’s aide and part time substitute teacher. During his high school years, she was a pseudo room mother (source of cupcakes and teacher’s aide) and Ways and Means chairperson for the Band Boosters, and energetic cow bell ringer. Sue was asked to be a member of the first Newport News Citizens Police Academy (NNCPA) and served several terms as the President of the NNCPA Alumni Association. With her ability to talk to Andy’s fellow officers and people in general, she became a Police Chaplain and frequent patrol ride along. As Happy, then Sparkle, the Clown, Sue visited children and senior citizen’s facilities. Sue was a member of the Virginia Triad and an active volunteer for the Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula, including two years as chairperson for their Soup Kitchen Sampler.
Sue was a dedicated member of Saint Vincent’s dePaul Catholic church. She was a Lector, an Usher, and member of the Parish Council, including serving as Chairperson. She taught youth Sunday School, sponsored new youth and adult members, refurbished the antique Nativity Scene, volunteered in the Back Door Kitchen, chaired several Fall Bazaars, participated in Passion Plays, co-sponsored the senior parishioner’s group, and helped with the annual Downtown Christmas for the needy. She also served as a charity auctioneer for Saint Vincent’s and Our Lady of Mount Carmel churches.
With her outgoing, happy, loving spirit, Sue never met a stranger. She loved cruising, traveling, and Shag dancing, where she could make lasting friends of strangers, and going to plays and concerts, where she could talk to those around her and to the performers backstage and ask for autographs. She was in a local Peninsula Community Theater (PCT) play and became a PCT and Ferguson Cener for the Arts patron. Sue enjoyed dressing herself and her husband for Halloween and other occasions. Her charisma allowed her to become a successful Tupperware dealer and eventually, a manager. Sue loved going to Chincoteague Island for the scenery, the ponies, and to talk to people. She helped a teenage stranger buy a pony at a Chincoteague Pony Penning auction. She was a member and eventually President of the Ocean Villas II Homeowner’s Association Board in Nags Head NC. Sue loved children, often stopping to smile, wave, and talk with them anywhere and everywhere. She enjoyed membership in Christopher Newport University’s LifeLong Learning Society, again meeting new people, and where she talked her husband into taking a Ukulele class and was instrumental in forming the Ukulearners , a.k.a. the Silver Strummers.
Sue brought energy and joy to her activities. She loved to play cards and other games with friends, excelling at Pictionary, Charades, and Trivia Pursuit. She looked forward to traveling to the Outer Banks of North Carolina with friends and family, particularly spending time at her modular home on the Sound side. Three of her favorite trips were to Irland with friends, where she got to kiss the Blarney Stone, to New York City, where she had a front seat for Disney’s “The Lion King” on Broadway, and to Italy where she visited the Sistine Chapel. She tried many crafts, particularly acrylics painting and ceramics, winning a ribbon now and then. Sue loved to cook, collect cookbooks, and share food and cakes with others, including pursuing a wedding cake hobby as “Cakes by Sweet Sue”. She also received an Honorable Mention for the 1996 The Spirt of Betty Crocker Contest. She has been known to pull the arm of a slot machine or place a table bet occasionally at Atlantic City NJ, Dover DE, or on a cruise. Sue was a Yankee fan, having attended several Spring Season games in Tampa FL. She was also a Disney fan, collector, and believer in “the magic”, and a lover/believer in Santa Claus and the spirit he represents. If you asked her, “What’s your favorite color?”. She would answer “shiny” or “sparkle”, but everyone knew it was lime green.
Sue was predeceased by her father, Hugh Daniel O’Donnell; mother, Hazel Waggoner O’Donnell; brother, Hugh Daniel (Danny) O’Donnell II (Gail); sisters, Catherine Lou (Kitty) O’Donnell and Deborah (Debbie) O’Donnell Juliana (Tom).
She is survived by her husband Thomas Alexander (Tom) Shull; her son Thomas A. (Andy) Shull, Jr. (Holly), three grandsons, Thomas A. (Alex) Shull, III, Tyler Andrew Shull, Tanner Alan Shull; nieces Sheila (Nene) Antonnicola (Maurizio) and Erin Lucks, and many long-time dear friends and family.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on May 3° at 2 pm at Peninsula Funeral Home in Newport News with visitation to follow. Dress casually and share fond memories. Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting www.peninsulafuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, donation can be made to the American Diabetes Association.
