Kelsey M. Mullen, 36, died Saturday, May 1, 2021 surrounded by her loving family at Miriam Hospital in Providence. She and her husband of five years Ryen D. Mullen shared over ten years together full of love and adventure.
Born in Providence, she was the daughter of Walter and Joan (Pizzo) Hobbs of Lincoln. Kelsey had lived in Smithfield for four years.
Kelsey was a Child Life Specialist at Hasbro Children’s Hospital for 14 years. She was a graduate of Wheelock College in Boston. Kelsey loved caring for the kids in the Tomorrow Fund Clinic and was always empowered to see the resiliency of the kids and their families during what is often the hardest parts of their lives. As the Tomorrow Fund Clinic’s Child Life Specialist, Kelsey was also the program director for the annual, week long, day camp at Hasbro called Camp Dotty for children with cancer and their siblings. This week-long camp was always the most taxing but rewarding part of her year and would require months of planning and scheduling to set up. Kelsey was also one of the major contributors to the newly started Camp Grace at Hasbro for children with life-altering, chronic illness and their siblings.
Kelsey was a Providence Roller Derby fan and volunteer, she enjoyed crafting, and always enjoyed her Souper Sundays with her friends. She also loved cuddling with her two dogs, Payson and Chamomile. Chamomile will miss her momma but both she and Kelsey were able to spend a special few hours together on her last day.
Kelsey was a beautiful soul inside and out. A survivor of severe aplastic anemia after receiving a bone marrow transplant from her brother, she went on to help children fight through a battle she knew all too well.
Kelsey was also a dedicated Rhode Island Blood Center advocate. She loved to host an annual blood drive for her birthday every year. Kelsey asked that her annual birthday blood drive continue to be held. Any time during the month of June, and at any Rhode Island Blood Center location, please use sponsor code 4033 to have your donation count towards Kelsey’s 36 pints for 36 years. Besides her husband and parents, she is survived by her brothers: Spencer Hobbs of Johnston and Cooper Hobbs of Pawtucket.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, May 27th at 9:30am in St. Philip Church, 622 Putnam Pike, Greenville. Masks and social distancing are mandatory. COVID capacity limits will be monitored. Visitation will be held Saturday, May 29th from 10:30am to 2:00pm in the Anderson-Winfield Funeral Home, Rt 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville. COVID capacity limits will be followed. Masks and social distancing required.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donation be made in Kelsey’s honor to Hasbro Children’s Hospital, PO Box H, Providence, RI 02901, or online at https://giving.lifespan.org/Hasbro/Donate. Simply check the box to identify the gift is a tribute and then add Kelsey’s name in the box below.
The family also requests that if you have a photo memory of Kelsey and want to bring a 4x6 picture to Anderson-Winfield Funeral Home on May 29th there will be cork boards and push pins to post your memories for all to see.