Dorothy M. Cullen, of Winchester, MA and Seabrook Beach, NH, loving wife of the late Honorable Francis P. Cullen, died peacefully Wednesday May 15th surrounded by her loving family.
Dorothy was born January 24, 1929, the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Kiley) Maloney of West Concord, Massachusetts. Her father played major league baseball and later retired as Deputy Superintendent of Concord State Reformatory (presently MCI Concord).
The family moved to Arlington where Dorothy attended St. Agnes School, graduated from Arlington High School, Class of 1948, and from Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1950. Dorothy worked as a Registered Nurse at Cambridge City Hospital and the Bedford Veterans Administration Center. While serving as maid of honor at best friend Madelyn Brine’s wedding, Dorothy met her future husband, who was the groom’s brother, and best man. “Frank” and “Dot” married Patriots Day, 1952, and settled in his hometown of Woburn, Dot stayed home to raise their children and supported Frank in his early years as a lawyer, City Counsellor and City Solicitor.
Dot and Frank moved to Winchester in 1960, where Frank received news of his appointment as Presiding Justice of the Fourth District Court of Eastern Middlesex (Woburn District Court) in 1964. Dot and Frank remained in Winchester for the remainder of their lives. Over the years Dot was a member of the Winchester Garden Club and served as a volunteer for ‘Meals on Wheels’ and at the Jenks Center. For enjoyment, Dot made stained glass and arrangements of dried flowers and she especially loved gardening and reading.
Dot and Frank traveled to St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. and later Siesta Key, Florida for many winter vacations. They also took several special trips in the U.S and abroad, including a momentous family visit to Ireland in 1977. Dot’s happiest place on earth however, was Seabrook Beach, and her summer house, “Stella Maris,” where she and Frank entertained family and friends for decades. From lively cocktail parties and countless cookouts to quiet meals and backyard Masses, hundreds of people enjoyed her legendary hospitality. After Frank passed in 2002, Dorothy spent quieter summers at Stella Maris, walking the beach and marveling at spectacular sunsets and watching the moon rise out of the Atlantic.
Dorothy is survived by her loving children Francis P., Jr. and his fiancée Patricia (Kane) Morgan, Brian M. and Michele, Mark R. and Nancy, and Michael C. and Susan Cullen, as well as her loving grand-children Paul, Erin, Alana, Mary, Andrew, Matthew and Kirstie, and great-grandchildren Maggie, David and Hue.
Relatives and friends are welcome to gather for visitation at the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Winchester, on Monday, May 20th from 9-10:30AM followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church, 155 Washington St., Winchester at 11AM. Burial will follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Winchester. In lieu of flowers, as an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to Winchester Hospital, c/o Philanthropy, 41 Highland Ave., Winchester, MA 01890.