William E. ‘Bill’ Mulrenan Jr.

William E. “Bill” Mulrenan Jr., – in Woburn, June 6th. Beloved husband of Mary P. (Cannon) Mulrenan. Devoted father of Patricia Harron , her husband William of Woburn, Diane MacDonald, her husband Jack of Dracut, Maryellen Mulrenan and Elizabeth Robinson, her husband Mark all of Woburn and the late William E. Mulrenan III. Dear brother of Marion Murphy and Trudy Coakley both of Woburn and his late brother-in-laws Robert Murphy and Ralph Coakley, Jr. Loving “Grampy” of Michael, Ryan and Bryana Harron, Erin, Megan and Catherine MacDonald, Espel, Jarod, and Annissa Calixto, Liam, Aiden and Ainsley Robinson, along with four great grandchildren. A Funeral will be held from the Lynch Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn on Saturday, June 11th at 9:15 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn at 10. Interment in Calvary Cemetery, Woburn. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to calling hours Friday 4-8 p.m.

OBITUARY:

William E. “Bill” Mulrenan passed away at his home Sunday evening June 6th amongst his dear family. The beloved husband of Mary (Cannon) Mulrenan, he would have been eighty years old Saturday.

Born in Woburn he was the son of the late William E. and Gertrude (Jones) Mulrenan Sr.

Raised in Woburn, Bill attended Woburn Schools and was a graduate of Woburn High School, Class of 1952.

In 1954 Bill and some friends were attending Good Friday Services, when they decided to venture up to the choir loft. It was then he met Mary Cannon, before being asked to leave and go back down stairs! Following the services they went to Barney Callahan’s for ice-cream and that was the beginning. In 1954 he enlisted in the United States Army having served his country proudly during the Korean War. In the fall of 1957 they married and snuggled right in to the Mulrenan homestead where they have remained, bring five children the world.

Bill was appointed a Call Firefighter in ’58 and in the early sixties was appointed as a full time firefighter, rising through the ranks he retired as a Captain in 1988. Throughout his tenure on the Fire Department Bill was often referred to as “the Bull.” His demeanor and approach was sometimes quick, but always on target, a legend in his own right. He always had great respect and admiration for all his fellow firefighters and thought the world of is crew.

All the while working as a firefighter, Bill also was a Master Electrician and worked side by side with his brother in law over the years.

Every summer was Hampton Beach. Off they would all go, where every day Bill would announce to everyone in the cottage “…now this is living!” They all had wonderful experiences there with friends and family and this has continued on over fifty years and still going strong.

Traveling was also an all time favorite. For many years they would travel with family visiting Ireland, Germany, cruise the Rhine, attended the Boston College game when they played Army in Ireland and during the winter months off to Florida. They had a ball!

Bill was also a very devout Catholic. He was a life long parishioner of St. Joseph’s right up until its closing and then continued his faith mission at St. Charles where he had served both churches as a Eucharistic Minister, alter server, lector and acolyte . While at St Charles he began devotions to Our Lady of Fatima, Padre Peo and volunteered a lot of time to the St. Francis House, Pine Street Inn all in Boston where he would deliver day old food from different vendors.

Bill was a man of great integrity. Once he made up his mind about something he stuck with it truly a man of his word. Bill was very dedicated to the good of not just his own family but that of all people from all walks of life.

Sadly , Bill was predeceased by his parents , his son Bill Jr., and brother in laws Robert Murphy and Ralph Coakley.

He is lovingly survived by his wife Mary P. (Cannon) Mulrenan, his children, Patricia Harron , her husband William of Woburn, Diane MacDonald, her husband Jack of Dracut, Maryellen Mulrenan and Elizabeth Robinson, her husband Mark all of Woburn. Dear brother of Marion Murphy and Trudy Coakley both of Woburn. Loving “Grampy” of Michael, Ryan and Bryana Harron, Erin, Megan and Catherine MacDonald, Espel, Jarod, and Annissa Calixto, Liam, Aiden and Ainsley Robinson, along with four great grandchildren. A Funeral will be held from the Lynch Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn on Saturday, June 11th at 9:15 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn at 10. Interment in Calvary Cemetery, Woburn. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to calling hours Friday 4-8 p.m.