MULLARKEY, PATRICIA ANN

16 October 1928 ~ 4 July 2021

Surrounded by loving family, Patricia Ann Mullarkey passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord on Sunday, July 4, 2021. Patricia (Pat) was born October 16, 1928, in Oregon, Illinois to Forrest T. Kable and Elizabeth Jane Charles. Her parents divorced when she was a child and her mother moved to Los Angeles where she grew up. Both her mother and father remarried, and Pat was lucky to have a sister (Barbara) from her mother and three sisters (Diane, Joan, and Judy) from her father. She spent many wonderful summers with her 3 sisters on their estate farm in Mt. Morris, Illinois. Pat was a gifted artist from an incredibly early age. Her teachers all saw this remarkable skill and would excuse her from her other studies to pursue art projects. She was recognized for this talent at age twelve and won 1st place for a seaside oil painting at the Chicago State Fair. She pursued art all through her teen years and after high school, she attended Frank Wiggins Trade School in Los Angeles to pursue a career in Fashion Design. During this timeframe, she and a girlfriend attended a St. Patrick’s Day Dance at the Hibernian Club. There she met the love of her life and future husband, John C. Mullarkey, Jr. Since it was St. Patrick’s Day, she did not believe his name was really “Mullarkey”, and the romance blossomed from there!
They fell in love and married July 3, 1948. In 1955, John and Pat moved their 3 young sons to Phoenix, and in 1957, their daughter was born. Pat was a busy homemaker during those years with 4 children, but she managed to be involved in all their activities including Boy and Girl Scouts. It was a full-time job just managing the household and all the kids’ activities, but Pat was a natural at it. She was an excellent cook and baker and was well known for making the most delicious homemade apple pies. When the kids were school age, Pat returned to work for Novis Denne’, a resort wear manufacturer on 5th Avenue in Scottsdale, with showrooms and offices all around the country. Since Pat was the full-time designer and pattern maker, her family quickly learned to be more self-sufficient. Although Pat was committed to her job, her first priority was always her family. She was the original multi-tasker working mother who always managed to have a delicious meal on the table, clean clothes for the family, and a tidy house. In later years, she kept busy with her beloved Gerard High School Mother’s friend group. They would get together regularly to sew, knit and chat (and more) about their families. She also was one of the founding members of the Christ Child Society where she utilized her talent to sew for the needy. Her family is blessed to have as her legacy all the amazing oil paintings she painted throughout the years, which will be forever treasured. Above all, Pat was a devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Pat is preceded in death by her husband John, and two sons, Michael (age 67) and Jim (age 61). Pat is survived by her two sisters, Barbara and Joan, her son John Mullarkey III, daughter Cathy Meyer (Ken), daughters-in-law Mary Mullarkey and Jennifer Mullarkey, and grandchildren Kelly (Jim), Jamie, Erin, Joel, Dan (Ann), Matt (Bergen), and Michael. Pat is also survived by great-grandchildren Aidan, Jack, Madeline, Jamison, Cassie, Maclan and Waylon (due Sept. 2021), nieces and nephew, and other beloved extended family members.
A Celebration of her Life and Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 12 at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Rd. The Funeral Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 13 at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 5045 E. Thomas Rd., with internment at St. Francis Cemetery. All are welcome to the reception following at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home. The family would like to thank all her wonderful caregivers, and request that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to Hospice of the Valley Northeast in Scottsdale.