Cannella Catherine Mullins

Cannella (Charkalis) Mullins, longtime resident of Greenwich, CT and Captiva Island, FL, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2024 at 75 years of age, surrounded by her loved ones. For three years, Cannella valiantly fought Leiomyosarcoma with her positive disposition, maintaining strength, grace, and -impossibly- a playful sense of humor until the very end.

Born in The Bronx, NY, Cannella was the daughter of Louis Charkalis and Antigone (Andrikopoulos) Charkalis. She attended Lehman College after graduation from Walton High School. In the early years of her career, Cannella was employed in NYC at the Southern District of the Justice Department where she worked in case management and administration. Together with her husband, Michael, she helped found Comtex Information Systems and was an integral part of its success from 1976-1996. They then founded Our Captiva, LLC, and Cannella oversaw its operations until recent years.

Cannella was a lover of animals and the natural world. She enjoyed spending time with friends and family as she walked Tod’s Point or along the sandy roads of Sanibel and Captiva. Having been raised within her father’s flower shop, steps from the New York Botanical Garden, Cannella always had a passion for nature. She was an avid gardener and hands-on landscaper who delighted in bringing vibrancy and beauty not only to her own home but to those walking by who stopped to admire her work. In addition to these passions, Cannella was a natural creative and talented artist; she also loved to give back to others through her volunteer work with local organizations. Most notably, Cannella was a patron of the New York Botanical Garden and the New York Zoological Society.

Cannella will be remembered most for her deep devotion to her family. Having recently celebrated 50 years of marriage to her husband and best friend, Cannella was a loving and supportive wife and proud mother to three daughters. She was a caring and protective sister and aunt, and in her husband’s family, she was one of the great “out-laws.” In her later years, Cannella’s greatest joy was being a YiaYia (Grandmother). Her five grandchildren lit up her world and brought a twinkle to her eye, despite whatever discomfort she was in from her illness. Cannella’s caring and generous heart, as well as her feisty and playful spirit, will live on through her loved ones.

Cannella is survived by Michael Mullins, loving husband of 50 years, and their daughters, Elizabeth Mullins, Carolyn Mullins, and Jennifer Mullins. She cherished being with her five grandchildren: Olivia Combs (10) and Charlotte Combs (10); Ronan DeGeorgi (7); Maxwell Hayes (5) and Adeline Hayes (3). She is also survived by her two younger sisters, Paraskeve Charkalis and Athena Charkalis, and her two sons-in-law, Chad Combs and Jim Hayes.

There will be no services at this time, but the family will have a celebration of this wonderful woman at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to Leiomyosarcoma Support and Direct Research Foundation in her honor, as she was determined to help find a cure for this rare and aggressive cancer. https://lmsdr.app.neoncrm.com/cannellamullins