Diane Mulligan

She was born on February 5, 1944, in Memphis, TN, where she spent her early childhood. She moved to Old Saybrook in where she spent the rest of her life, except for several years wintering at her house in Palm Coast, FL enjoying the warmth and avoiding the cold weather.

She graduated from Old Saybrook High School in 1962 where she was a Drum Majorette. After high school she went on to hairdressing school.

She worked as a hairdresser for years, including some time working at her mother’s salon, Monique’s, in Old Saybrook. She volunteered as an EMT on Old Saybrook Ambulance for more than 10 years and liked going out for breakfast with her fellow volunteers regularly. She cherished the friendships that she made through that group. After stopping hairdressing Diane worked at Middlesex Hospital Shoreline Clinic for over 20 years as an administrative assistant. She loved the people that she worked with and the friends that she made there. One of her favorite parts of the job was planning special events like the Children’s Christmas party. After her retirement, getting to see her old friends when she went back for appointments put a huge smile on her face.

She loved spending time with Bill, her beloved husband of 60 years, her family, friends and neighbors. She especially loved watching her granddaughters play sports, participate in their activities and grow up. She made both feel like they were her favorite. She loved traveling, cooking and shopping. She was the center of our family and was generous, strict, and strong all at the same time. She loved to laugh. She was a great mom and a best friend to her daughter.

She is preceded in death her mother Marye Renny, son, Timothy James Mulligan, her brother, James “Bubby” Lancaster, and mother-in-law, Marguerite Gallagher.

She is survived by her husband, William (Bill) Mulligan, Jr, her daughter, Sharon Mulligan, and son-in-law, Brian Donnelly, of Bristol, RI, and brother, Randy Renny, and sister-in-law, Juli Renny of Colorado. Her granddaughters, Kacey Mulligan of Chicago, and Jayden Donnelly of Bristol, RI were especially loved and the source of much joy.

The family would like to thank the nurses and doctors at Middlesex Hospital for the care and compassion they showed our loved one in her final days.

A celebration of Diane’s life will be held at a later date.