Mrs. Corinne Jean Ann Mulligan Cecckin

Mrs. Corinne Jean Ann Cecckin died on January 11, 2006. Arrangements under the direction of Hulse & English Funeral Home & Chapel in St. Catharines, ON.Corinne Jean Ann Cecckin - nee Mulligan, was born July 11, 1944 to Ralph Gervin Mulligan and Audrey (nee - Snider) in Niagara Falls , Ontario. Corinne was an only child for 10 years, at which point she became the "older sister" to Pamela(Penny). Corinne attended Stamford Collegiate, and her many friends were often treated to sweets and meals at the restaurant/store that her father Ralph and Mother Audrey operated. They also operated the dance hall, the ice cream parlour, and the local taxi service. Corinne was the proud "mother" of a cute little dog during her childhood.She would dress him up in baby clothes and show him off all over town. The dog was good enough to perform many "tricks" for his young master.

Corinne spent some years in Oshawa when Dad worked for the motors there,and in Bethany at the family farm, where , in the small hamlet of Lifford, Dad had been born and raised. He ran the local bakery, and worked long hours baking bread, and delivering it by horse and buggy at one time.Corinne spent lots of time with the cattle her Grandfather raised, and told of times she would lie on the salt licks, and sample the salt! This always brought a reprimand from Grandmother Mulligan. One time , on the wrap- around-veranda of the octagon shaped farm house, she sat on an old chesterfield which had been inhabited by a swarm of hornets! She franticaly ran 'round and 'round the house yelling and pounding on the doors and windows to be let inside. Her Mom was scared to open a door at first, and poor Corinne was stung more than once!

Corinne also had hopes of being a figure skater, and she studied skating with some girls who would become quite well known in the sport. She enjoyed watching through-out her lifetime, although she was never able to attain her dreams of actually performing.

Later in her life she would marry Joseph (Joe) Cocco, and give birth to a wonderful son, Kevin Joseph, and a beautiful daughter,Lorraine Grace. The marriage failed eventually, and I was divorced as well. One thing led to another, and I was blessed to become Corinne's next husband! Corinne was a wonderful wife,mother, friend,companion,and my true soul mate. We were together for a little over 25 years! Corinne treated my children, John, Tom, and Tammy, as though they were her own. The children have many special memories of the "Aunt Corinne", who soon became know to them as Mom. Corinne was their mentor, counselor, crying towel, friend, and so much more. They recall Corinne, who never held a driver's licence, driving them the short distance from the farm house we rented in Martindale, to the Port Dalhousie swimming pool. The old stationwagon would never handle all that well, and they would invariably run over curbs, and onto the shoulder of the road.!! (we learned later that the body had rusted off the frame, causing some loss in handling!!!)

Corinne was a true friend to so many people in all the various stages of her life. People she knew and cared for always knew that she could and would advise them on any and all of their trials. And always on the QT.No gossip, no judgement, just a sympathetic ear, and true, sound advice. Corinne could fit in easily and comfortably with just about anyone. She was liked and respected by all who got to know her.

I was between jobs when we lived in Martindale, and money was tight, tight, tight!!! Yet we still managed to get out one time a week, and Corinne never complained once about being so broke!! She was the perfect woman.Stoic, dedicated, and solid.

She would operate our CB radio, and got to talk to people all around the globe! She would ride the back of our old '64 Harley Pan Head in the sun,rain, and once or twice the snow, with very minimal complaints(usually about the way I rode). Corinne was knocked out one time when I lost control of the bike, and she regained conciousness in the emergency ward of the Hotel Dieu Hospital. Her first concern was, where is my husband? When she learned that I was in police custody, she left the hospital, and walked straight to the station. She and I went horse back riding, rode in a hot air balloon (we were entered into a radio show draw by friends just after our marriage),rode that old Harley through 3 states and into a 4th,as well as to eastern Ontario, and northern Ontario,travelled a bit in an old motorhome we bought,flew to the west coast 3 times, drove to the east coast twice, and did countless "road trips" all over creation!!! Every thing we did, I am sure she tolerated for my sake more than for the enjoyment or thrill.Setting up tents in the rain at night, with only the bike (which offered no protection from the elements), and being totally LOST most of the time, or trying for my sake to manuever a canoe while "we" fished must have pushed her internal strength and patience past a human level!!!One of the worst cases was being in the Bay of Quinte at night in an inflatable two man boat with a dying flashlight.

Things improved greatly when I was hired by G.M.. and we were living in a house Corinne's Dad helped us buy.I built a large veranda on the front of the house, and Corinne absolutely loved to sit out most every night. I had built a roof over the whole porch, so rain nor snow could keep her off it. I was even "coaxed" into putting a cable extension out to the porch so Corinne had a small TV out there as well!!!

On January 8th, 2000, the worst possible thing that can happen to any parent, happened to Corinne and I ,when Kevin passed away. Kevin's death was nearly more than Corinne could bear, but bear it she did. With typical strength and resolve Corinne did all that needed to be done, did it right, and treated everyone with dignity and poise.The tragic loss left a mark on her for the rest of her life I feel. Added to the loss of Kevin, Lorraine was now married and living in Japan, so Corinne had a hard road to walk. Lorraine flew home for the funeral,but I am sure Corinne had a lot of things held deep inside. Still, I never saw her complain or feel sorry for herself once. Corinne did go to Japan twice, for 6 weeks each time, and she got to see both her grandchildren, as well as most of Japan!!

Corinne trained and worked for a while as a care giver, or nurses aid, and also at the Minolta Tower for Mrs. Bolus.

Corinne was never the type of person to need any fancy trappings, and the few times I did splurge on her, she would tell me not to be so spend happy!!

I suppose the thing that I am most grateful for is the fact that Corinne assured me that she had accepted Jesus as her saviour, and that we would be together again one day.She told me this not much before the end came for her.The nurses and the doctor were taken by surprise by the suddenness of her passing, but I know it was God's way of performing the cure I had prayed for the night before.I am sure Corinne is in a better place now.She will never feel pain or sorrow again! Praise God for His Love, Compassion, and Wisdom.I ask all who knew and loved Corinne to pray for her, and to do what you must to try to be with her some day....forever with the Lord.