Obituary of Marcia Lucille Mullaney

Marcia L. Mullaney, age 89, departed this world on June 10, 2021, to await her family in heaven.  Marcia, born Marcia L. Beane in Concord, Maine on September 27, 1931, was the youngest of seven children.  Marcia was preceded in death by her loving husband Neil.  She is survived by three children: David and wife Nikki, of Leominster, MA; Suzanne of Albuquerque, NM; and Christopher and wife Donna, of Albuquerque, NM.  She was blessed with six grandchildren:  Larissa, Sean, Christy, Corey, Jack and Emma, and two great grandchildren.  Valedictorian of her graduating class in 1950, Marcia’s desire to become a mother, homemaker, and matriarch of a family was always foremost in her life.

Marcia married the love of her life Neil; they celebrated 65 years of marriage.  When they married, Marcia became an outstanding and proud Marine wife, raising their children, and holding the family together during Neil’s numerous unaccompanied overseas deployments, with determination and grace.  In 1970, while stationed in New York City, she received a special commendation from the First Naval District for opening and operating one of the military’s first child day care centers – with no funding beyond the fifteen cents an hour fee per child!

Marcia was an accomplished cantor and choir member.  In 1974, she became the first female lay cantor in the State of Maine.  Marcia lived her beliefs, was respected for her unwavering Catholic faith, and served as the family’s beacon of spiritual life.

Marcia was a talented and joy-filled gardener; all the neighborhood and passersby enjoyed seeing her beautiful flowers.  She was also a renowned cook, most famous for her desserts.  Recruited by the historic Carriage House, a gourmet restaurant near Sebago Lake in Maine, she provided homemade pies and biscuits, often producing a dozen pies a day from her home kitchen, in addition to adeptly and joyfully attending to all her family.  Any pies which did not pass her standards were happily devoured by family and friends who dropped by.

Marcia and Neil loved to travel, and enjoyed annual family camping trips, as they raised their family. In addition to touring the US in their RV for eight years after retiring, they took many trips together, traveling abroad to South America, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, France and the Holy Land.

As their children left home, she and Neil became avid hikers.  Together, they climbed most of the 5,000 ft+ mountains of New England, and also conquered the Sandia Crest in New Mexico, via the La Luz trail.  They served as a Campground Hosts for several years in the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire.

Marcia’s greatest accomplishment and gift, however, was her endless capacity to love.  Love of God, her husband, her family and all who came in contact with her.  Marcia was completely devoted to Neil, and their loving marriage was a joy and inspiration to all who knew them.  Even in her later years with dementia, she could often be heard telling her caregivers, family and fellow residents, her favorite phrase “I love you”.  Marcia is sadly missed by her entire family, including many beloved special friends in Biloxi, MS and Lincoln, NH.

After a family memorial service, burial will be at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Family and friends are invited to share messages and memories in the online guestbook at Riverside Funeral Home of Albuquerque, NM.  In lieu of flowers, the family invites  anyone who wishes to make a donation in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, New Mexico Chapter either online at https://www.alz.org/newmexico/donate, or mail to Alzheimer’s Association, Attn: NM Chapter, in memory of Marcia Mullaney, PO Box 96011, Washington, DC  20090-6011