Loretta was born in Brooklyn, NY to Edward and Frances Flynn (formerly from Newfoundland,
Canada.) She was raised along with her five siblings in the close knit community of Bay Ridge
and graduated from Catherine McAuley Catholic High School.
Loretta met Robert A. Mulligan (Bob), while working at Kresge’s 5 & 10. They were married on
October 8, 1960. They flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico directly after the wedding where Bob
began a new job as an assistant manager of a Kresge store, later known as K-Mart.
Bob’s career with K-Mart sent them on a journey through many places including New York,
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and finally Michigan. Along the way, they raised three children
and were overjoyed to welcome seven grandchildren into their lives. In 2010, they celebrated
their 50th wedding anniversary.
Loretta and Bob enjoyed traveling many parts of the U.S. as well as Europe, China and
Australia. She also loved cooking, gardening and reading, especially historical books. Loretta
was passionate about her country and enjoyed a good political debate. She started every
morning with a long walk with her long time friends, Shirley Schlicht and Barbara Pelton.
Faith and family was at the center of her life. She was the catalyst for bringing her own family as
well as extended family together at birthdays and holiday celebrations. The door was always
open to visitors. And, even when they lived far from family, she made a point to stay close to
grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Loretta had a special relationship with all of her
siblings, and although they lived far apart, they stayed close through trips together and long
telephone chats. She set an extraordinary example of what matters….not stuff, but people.
Loretta loved her church, Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church. She enjoyed sharing her time
and talents helping in a variety of ways, including administrative duties, preparing food for the
homeless, delivering meals for Meals on Wheels and visiting nursing homes. She prayed often
for her friends and family and for anyone she thought would benefit from a little help from
above.
Her grandchildren were her shining stars and she was their biggest fan. Her love and generosity
were boundless and she enjoyed cheering them on at sports events, theater productions and
academic pursuits. Loretta loved having them over for sleepovers, sledding, swimming and ice
skating parties and she always made sure they had plenty of good food to eat.
C. S. Lewis wrote “The pain I feel now is part of the happiness I had before. That’s the deal.”
Loretta gave so much happiness to all who knew her and that is why her family and friends will
miss her terribly. She led by example and showed us what a devoted wife, mom, grandmother,
sister and friend looks like and in doing so, made life more beautiful for all those around her.
Beloved wife of the late Robert A. Mulligan. Loving mother of Christine (John) Bulthuis, Robert (Kara) Mulligan and Karen (Mark) Welling. Treasured grandmother of Patrick, Christopher, Kevin and Brian Mulligan, and Matthew, Alexander and Emma Bulthuis. Cherished sister of the late Joseph (the late Maria) Flynn, Mary (Brian) McCarthy, the late Jean (the late Patrick) McGuire, Audrey (David) Kives and Diane (Michael) Scheller. Loretta was preceded in passing by her parents, Edward and Frances Flynn.
Visitation will be held Sunday, May 20, 2018 from 2:00pm until 7:00pm (Rosary 6:00pm) at the Union Lake Chapel of the Elton Black & Son Funeral Home, 1233 Union Lake Road, White Lake. Funeral Mass will be held Monday, May 21, 2018 at 10:00am (In State 9:30am) at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church, 3700 Commerce Road, Orchard Lake. Burial will be held Monday, May 21, 2018 at 1:30pm at All Saints Cemetery, 4401 Nelsey Road, Waterford. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project. Share a memory at www.eltonblackandsonwhitelake.com
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