Mabel L. Cullen

DELMAR- Mabel L. Cullen, “Mabs,”, 91, of Delmar, died Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at her home in Delmar. She was born April 30, 1925, in London, England, a daughter of the late James Matthew Leitch and Mabel Leitch (Aylmore) Buttwell. During World War II she had a classified job with the British Forces and met the love of her life, Richard E. Cullen, an American soldier serving in the war. They were married in April 1945, once the war ended. In her younger days she worked as a legal secretary before leaving the job to raise her family. Later in life she decided to return to school and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Salisbury State and later earned her Master’s from the University of Maryland. With her degree in hand, she started a second career as a social worker and worked several years at Deer’s Head Hospital, Nutrisystem and Wicomico County. She was a long-time, active member of Holy Redeemer and St. Francis de Sales Catholic Churches, where she served as a Sunday school teacher, Eucharistic Minister, Choir Director and was a member of the Diocesan choir of Wilmington. She enjoyed the arts and was a trained classical singer and dancer. Her true passion was her involvement with the Community Players of Salisbury, where she was past president among other things. Always serving her community, Mabs also volunteered at St. Francis de Sales School and PRMC and she served on the Wicomico County Adult Public Guardianship Review Board for 6 years. She is survived by her beloved family, a son Bob Cullen of Millwood, Virginia (wife Phyllis, children Kimberly (Pete) of England, Craig (Traci) of Denver and Eric of Chicago); a daughter, Catherine Cullen of Annapolis (husband Martin, children Cullen (Catherine) of Woodbine, Maryland, Nicholas of San Diego and Benjamin of Denver); and a son Christopher Cullen of Salisbury (wife Melissa, son Bradley of Salisbury); and four great grandchildren, Lenore, Lexi, Helix and Arkin. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Richard E. Cullen, who passed in 1993 and a grandson, Matthew Cullen, who passed in 1991. A visitation will be held on Sunday, October 2, 2016, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 at Short Funeral Home in Delmar. The following day, Monday, October 3, 2016, a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Delmar. Interment will follow at St. Stephen’s Cemetery in Delmar. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Maryland, 10626 York Road Suite A, Cockeysville, MD 21030, or by visiting https://www.cff.org/Maryland/ . Arrangements are in the care of Short Funeral Home, Delmar. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.shortfh.com.

Mabel L. Cullen

April 30, 1925 - September 28, 2016