Cassin Benedict Cullen

Cassin passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on November 17, 2019, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Cassin is survived by his children, Maureen (John Horton), Tim, Kay Eberle (Ron), and Tom, grandchildren Caitlin, Sean (Caitlin), Ryan (Hanna), Rebecca, Jonathan, Jordyn, and Chayse, great grandchildren Milan, Valontin, and Cameron, his brother, Jack (Doris), and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Monica, in 2007, and granddaughter, Megan, in 2013.

Cassin was born to Harold and Florence Cullen and raised in Calgary, the fourth of eight children. He attended Holy Angels Elementary School in Calgary where he met his life long friend, Bill Doherty (Marj). Cassin maintained his relationships with his school friends and their wives throughout his life. From a young age, Cassin had a job delivering the daily morning newspaper, as well as being an altar boy at the Ursuline Convent. During and after WWII, he got a job as a Red Cap for CP Rail, where he helped many soldiers and travellers passing through Calgary. He branched out from the local jobs after graduating from St. Mary’s Boys’ High School.

He started driving a drilling truck for the oil rigs, then became a landman for Mobil Oil, transferring to Regina to work in an office. He was assigned a secretary named Monica, and after a ten-month courtship, they married in 1954. The newlyweds moved back to Cassin’s hometown in 1955, and started their family in 1956. They built a house in Kingsland that would be the gathering place for family and friends for many years. In 1957, Monica’s father, Peter Donnelly, passed away and her mother, Effie, moved from Regina to Calgary to live with the young family. The Kingsland home was the place to be for Stampede week breakfasts, St. Patrick’s Day parties, birthday celebrations, bridge parties, and other joyous occasions.

In the mid 1970’s the family moved to Kelowna for five years, where Cassin and Monica started a new business: Cullen’s Cleaning Carousel. In 1980, they returned to Calgary where Cassin once again worked in the oil business until retiring in 1989 to Fairmont Hot Springs. As was their custom, Cassin and Monica opened their Fairmont home to family and friends for celebrations, including the traditional Stampede week breakfasts, and St. Pat’s parties. Cassin and Monica thoroughly enjoyed life in Fairmont, but with Monica’s failing health, they chose to move back to Kelowna in 2000 to be closer to medical care and their daughter, Maureen, and her family. Monica passed away in 2007, leaving Cassin heartbroken.

It was shortly after Monica’s passing that Cassin started showing signs of Alzheimer’s Disease. The disease began slowly, taking its toll on Cassin and his family. In late 2011, Cassin moved into Pine Acres Home, where he received kind and loving care from extraordinary people. As his disease progressed, Cassin continued to be treated with dignity and love by his caregivers. The Cullen family is very grateful to the staff at Pine Acres for the love and kindness they provided for all of us.

If friends so desire, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of B.C. or a charity of their choice. A celebration of Cassin’s life will be held in Calgary in the summer of 2020. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.firstmemorialfuneralkelowna.com and searching his name under obituaries. Please keep checking funeral home website for celebration of life, date and time.

Arrangements entrusted to First Memorial Funeral Services, 250-762-2299.