Parcourez la nécrologie de Thomas Mulherin 19472022 résidant dans la province Nouveau-Brunswick pour le détail des funérailles
Thomas Mulherin
1947-2022
Thomas “Tom” Robert Mulherin, born April 17, 1947, in
Grand Falls, New Brunswick, of a WWII airman and his war bride, died
November 27, 2022, in Perth-Andover, New Brunswick, from the
‘complications’ that accompany end-stage dementia.
Tom spent a mischievous childhood in Blue Bell, NB as part of a family
of 10, exploring the local woodlands, hopping trains, skating on the
nearby pond, doing Elvis impressions and growing up in the
family’s general store. As a teenager, he loved cars and
described automotive adventures (mostly with his brother, Geoff) that
could only be described as illegal, irresponsible–and lots of
fun, in a manner that no longer exists. His father dangled an
irresistible, horsepower-rich carrot when Tom was 16 and gave him a
new car if he would quit school to go to work in the family business.
With a sweet ride and a pocketful of cash, Tom would roar around the
village in search of adventure and his other newfound love: girls. He
met a young lady from Plaster Rock, Susan Everett, at the Arthurette
dance hall, after Susan convinced her of-age friends to take her along
on that fateful night. As the music faded to the background and the
revelers on the dance floor parted, their eyes met across the crowded
room and the rest, as they say, is none of our business.
By this time, the Mulherin clan had moved their lives and business to
Plaster Rock and Tom and Susan settled into family life, Tom working
for the new family business and Susan chasing around first, Todd,
then, in quick succession, Michael. Tom was a devoted and enthusiastic
father, who loved showing his boys how to throw a ball, shoot a gun,
do mental math, run a billiards table, paddle a canoe, get their
father a beer and generally how to fully squeeze the juice out of
life. Tom and Sue hosted countless gatherings and events and shared
their lives with family and friends alike. Friends of Todd and Michael
also gravitated to the Mulherin household and became fast friends with
Tom and Sue alike. Tom specialized in having fun and spreading it to
others, whether at home, on the golf course, in a canoe, on the
baseball diamond or the ski hill–pretty much anywhere he went
really. It’s been said that Tom was “known to sometimes
celebrate too much–but never too little”. This led to him
having a social gravity that drew in friends by the bushel and always
fostered laughter and fun. Life was full of work and play, but the
focus was definitely on the latter (often he showed a rare ability to
combine the two). He loved his family, but also his friends, both near
and far, who truly were a second family (you know who you are). The
Mulherin household became a destination for friends of Tom and Sue
& also of their sons and all felt like part of a fun loving family
when they were there.
Mulherin’s Save-Easy was his life’s work and he was very proud
of the business he and Susan built after taking it over from his
parents in the 70’s. “The Store” was a centerpiece
of the community and gave the family a chance to work together for
many years. They sold the store and retired in 1999, after which Tom
took to the golf course, the local woodlands (again) and the Tobique
river (mostly without getting wet). Grandchildren came next and Tom
took on the role of “Grampie” enthusiastically and
lovingly. Always having had a soft spot for kids, he was overjoyed to
have his own grandkids to pour his love into. He and Susan even moved
to the Arctic following the birth of their second grandchild, to live
with Michael and family for a year of adventure and family time. He
also loved his later-life faithful companion, Sumi, the brown Labrador
retriever who was the last ‘person’ his memory let
go.
His last chapter was interrupted by Alzheimer though, even through
that, he managed to remain kind-hearted and fun, charming the staff at
the nursing home with (often inappropriate) jokes, dancing and
stories, all of which revealed his true core, his superpower:
joy.
So, when you see someone playing with a toddler, making them laugh; or
someone dancing like nobody’s watching; or when you hear someone
telling a joke, even a bad one, and laughing infectiously; or someone
giving love like they don’t care if they get hurt, think of Tom. And,
if you can carry anything of him along with you as you move through
life, maybe having known him will add to your gift of having and
spreading joy, too.
He is survived by his wife Susan (Everett), 2 sons Todd (Hayley) and
Michael (Kathleen) and 5 grandchildren, Linus, Kat, Henry, Callum and
Kohan, and an extended family of brothers and sisters and nieces and
nephews and dear friends. Also survived by his sisters, Donna Mulherin
and Linda Mulherin; his brothers, Douglas (Murielle), Daniel, Patrick
(Crystal), and William (Angie); and his sister-in-law, Sheila
Mulherin.
Tom was predeceased by his parents; his brother Geoffrey; and his
sister-in-law, Cindy Mulherin.
A celebration of Tom’s life will be held on Saturday, July 15, 2023,
at the Royal Canadian Legion in Plaster Rock from 2-4 pm.
Donations, in lieu of flowers, can be made in Tom’s memory to
either of Friends of Mount Carleton Provincial Park through Paypal, or
the Alzheimer Society of Canada through their website,
www.alzheimer.ca.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Brunswick Funeral Home,
Perth-Andover and Plaster Rock.
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19472022
Décès pour la Ville Plaster Rock, Province Nouveau-Brunswick
avis deces Thomas Mulherin 19472022
nécrologie Thomas Mulherin 19472022
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