Obituary of Francis M. Mullen, Jr.

Francis M. Mullen, Jr., 81, of Glastonbury passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at home surrounded by his family. He was a proud U.S Navy Vietnam veteran and the beloved husband of Susan (Pedersen) Mullen for 55 years.

Born in Hartford, Francis was the son of the late Francis M. Mullen, Sr. and Nora (Sullivan) Mullen. Francis grew up in the south end of Hartford. He always had fond memories of his childhood friends and their shenanigans. Needless to say, he gave his mother a few gray hairs growing up. Francis graduated from Bulkeley High School in 1961. He joined the  Navy after college and served on the U.S.S Shangri-La as an E3 gunners mate from 1961-1967. Upon his return from the Navy, Francis worked at Pratt & Whitney for 27 years as a parts inspector until his retirement. While working at Pratt, he went on a blind date with a nurse from Hartford Hospital. Six weeks later, he asked her to marry him. Fran and Sue built a wonderful life together and created endless memories throughout their 55 years of marriage.

Anyone who knew Fran knew his love for history, sports, classic cars, rock music and attending rock concerts. His keen memory kept all who knew him amazed at his ability to recollect events, dates and details from the smallest of conversations to the largest and most detailed of books. Fran also had many hobbies and collections that kept him busy. He was a drummer in the Nayaug Fife and Drum Corp as well as the Moodus Drum and Fife Corp. While with Moodus, he traveled to Scotland to perform with the Drum Corps in the Highland Games in Edinburgh. During the late 70’s,  Francis was also a member of the 1st Company Governor's Foot Guard in Hartford. While in the Foot Guard, he participated in the Inaugural parade for President Jimmy Carter, another fond memory of his. Fran’s passion of Civil War history 

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter Laura Dixon and her husband Robert of Ellington, his brother Paul Mullen and his wife Rosemary of West Hartford, his sister Anne-Marie DesRoberts of Bristol, his grandchildren Ashley and Michael Dixon and his great grandchild Kayden DiRenzo. Nieces, Holly McIntyre (Deb), Jennifer Main (David), Julie Garceau (Dennis) and nephew Craig DesRoberts (Amy). Francis also leaves behind many close neighbors and friends that meant the world to him including  Vern and Judy Day (Melissa), The Oechslis and The Gerbasis.

A graveside service, with Military Honors, will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 12:00 noon at the CT State Veterans Cemetery, Bow Lane, Middletown. Friends may call on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the CT Humane Society (www.cthumane.org) For online condolences, please visit www.mulryanfh.com.