Mpls - age 92, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family in her assisted living apartment, on September 29, 2025.

Monica was born May 22, 1933, in Minneapolis, the daughter of the late Otto and Winnifred (Sicard) Lenz. She grew up swinging on the trapeze in her back yard, creating bowls and all manner of spindles in her father's woodshop, and making dolls from Hollyhock blossoms. She graduated from Washburn High School. She attended the University of Colorado in Boulder and the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis until the latter tacked an extra year onto requirements for her degree program in education for the blind. She responded by applying for a job at Northwest Airlines and worked as a flight attendant until she married Joe Sullivan in 1955. She was among the first staff members of the Edina Art Center, a beloved place and a beloved community of artists and friends. She worked there for 30 years until she retired, at age 75.

Monica will forever be remembered as creative and fun loving, with a sometimes mischievous glint in her eye. She loved art, theme parties, flowers, picnics and White Castle hamburgers. Her children, grandchildren, neighbors and friends were continuously delighted by the activities she dreamed up to entertain them and herself. She was preceded in death by her husband Joe Sullivan, son Mike Sullivan, sister Judy Divine (Mike) and brother Warren Lenz (Jackie). She is survived by her sister Janice Buechler (Jim); four children: Denny Sullivan (Ann), Dick Sullivan (Anne Byer), Terri Sullivan (Pete Mathison) and Ann Colleran (Mike); daughter-in-law, Nancy. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, who called her Grandma Burger or Grandma Tater, and two great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held Sunday, October 12, from 2-4 p.m. at Beard's Plaisance, 4525 Upton Avenue South in Minneapolis. Memorial donations in Monica's memory may be directed to The Edina Art Center, 4701 W 64th St., Edina, MN 55435.

Gill Brothers612-861-6088www.gillbrothers.com