Mary M. McNellis Mullen

Mary MeNellis Mullen of Hanson, host of the annual Hanson ''Christmas Sing'' HANSON- Mayy McNelIis Mullen, 87 of Hanson, host of annual Hanson ''Christmas Sing,'' died Friday, February 2, 2007 at Wingate at Silver Lake after a long illness. She was the widow of George M. Mullen and owner of Red Acres Farm, on West Washington Street. Born in Chicago, she graduated in 1937 from Oak Park High School in Oak Park, IL. She graduated from Chicago Teacher's College in 1941 and taught kindergarten for several years. She married George M. Mullen, her high school sweetheart, in 1941. Mr. Mulen, who died in 1994 was a veteran of World War II, where he served as a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy, and former President and Chief executive officer of Belknap & McLain Inc. in Watertown, Mohawk Carpet in Amsterdam, NY and the Mohawk Distribution Center in Watertown. Mrs. and Mr. Mullen, known by many as ''Moni'' and ''Beeps,'' were well respected in the community for their dedication to their large extended family, church, and community. Mrs. Mullen had lived in Hanson since 1950 and was active in the community, along with her husband; she served as president of the Hanson PTA and received the Kiwanis Award in 1985, honoring their 35 years of distinguished service to the town of Hanson and its youth. She and her family started and hosted the annual ''Christmas Sing,'' a bonfire and Christmas sing-along open to the community for 51 years held on their Red Acres Farm. The event has brought together many local community and church groups over the years, including the Kiwanis Club of Hanson and local civil war reenactors. Mrs. Mullen and her family were actively involved in the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation since 1968. She served beside her husband, George, who was past president and director, and their work included helping to build the 4-H Center in Ashland, where the main conference mom was named in their honor in 1993. She was named an honorary trustee of the University of Rochester, an institution from which her husband graduated in 1941 and served as a trustee from 1969 to 1993, The Mullen's dedicated much of their lives to the University. They were major donors and fund-raisers, including the $100 million campaign, which Mr. Mullen chaired. They were recognized leaders in admissions and scholarship in the Boston area for more than 30 years, recruiting hundreds of students to the university. She was a communicant of St. Joseph the Worker Church in Hanson and a member of the Parish Council. She worked on the Cardinal's Third Century Campaign with her husband, who served as vice chairman and trustee. She was also an active in a number of local and regional organizations, including the Massachusetts Agricultural Club, the Friends of the Cranberry Specialty Hospital in Middleboro, the Plymouth County Extension Service and Jordan Hospital in Plymouth. She is survived by three daughters, Mary Margaret ''Gret'' Lozeau of Hanson, Kathleen Norris of Hanson and Patricia Scandurra of West Barnstable, a son, Michael G. Mullen of Hanson, a brother, Merlin McNellis of Lisle, IL; a sister, Harriet Kralovec of Boulder, CO, a nephew, Robert Brothers of Kingston, 15 grandchildren, and one great grandchild. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at 10 AM in St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1 Maquan Street, Rte 14 in Hanson. Interment in Fern Hill Cemetery in Hanson. Visiting hours in the Sullivan Funeral Home, 2 Maquan Street, at the corner of Rte 14 & 58 in HANSON on Monday from 4-8 PM. Memorial donations may be made to the Cranberry Are Hospice, 36 Cordage Park Circle, Suite 326, Plymouth MA 02360.