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Obituary for Esther Sullivan

  Esther Esi Yacoba Vanderpuije Sullivan, 72 of Queens, NY, entered into eternal rest on January 23, 2021. Mother, sister, sister-in-law, auntie, grand-auntie, grandmother and friend to all of us, was born in Accra, Ghana, West Africa to the late Francis and Carridor (Quaye) Vanderpuije on 24th July 1949. She spent her formative years in Ghana, where she attended Adabraka Methodist Primary school and Kaneshie Methodist School. After graduating, she was employed as a laboratory technician at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Accra Ghana. She then became self-employed for some years before leaving Ghana for the USA where she further trained and gained certification in Restaurant and Hotel Management.


Esther became a naturalized citizen of the United States. She was a devout daughter of Christ and served Christ in any capacity required of her, and lately, was baptized at World Changers Church New York, a Creflo Dollar Ministry and given membership. She was also a member of the Intercessory Ministry at Brooklyn Tabernacle, and a faithful partner to Believer's Voice of Victory, a Ministry which brought her much joy and peace.

Esther loved to cook and pray and was a comic and fashionista par excellence! She was fiercely loyal and would stand anywhere to defend her own.

She leaves to mourn and cherish her memory her two daughters, Virtue (Naa Ayeley) and Rachel (Naa Nueki); her son, Dennis Nii Ayiteh (Tom); her brothers, Benjamin, Kwesi Nyan and Papa Asma and her sisters, Evelyn Ayeley Bruce, Anna Vanderpuye Owunne and Esi Yacoba Jnr. Her dearly beloved grandchildren, Cillian, Fiachra, Liam and Cathal Shine; her uncle, C. O Quaye, and the rest of the Vanderpuije, Morton, Nelson, Hesse, French and Quaye families who reside in Ghana and elsewhere also survived her. She is also survived by a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Emmanuel Lloyd, Isaac Vanderpuije and sister, Mercy Aba. Sis Yacoba touched the lives of all who knew her and will be sorely missed.

On Wednesday, February 3, 2021 visitation will begin at 9:00 am until time of service at 10:00 am at Briscoe-Tonic Funeral Home, 2294 Old Washington Rd., Waldorf, MD. Interment to follow at Ivy Cemetery, 2823 King St., Alexandria, VA 22302.