Anne "Nancy" Mullarkey passed away peacefully with family by her side on November 15, 2022. Anne was born on September 6, 1941, to parents Bridget and Thomas Cunnie. Born and raised in County Sligo, Ireland, she was one of 9 siblings raised on the family farm. At the age of 21, Anne made the brave decision to move to New York City where she began a new life for herself. She worked as a housekeeper for her sponsor family before taking a job as a waitress at a local diner. Little did she know that, after traveling halfway around the world, she would meet her future husband who happened to grow up a few miles from her hometown in Ireland.
She married Joseph Mullarkey on July 11, 1964. Together they had five amazing children and kept busy with all the kid's activities of Irish dance, Gaelic football, karate, and swim lessons. She began her career as a CNA after the kids started school. She loved and cared for her patients and they loved her. She maintained many friendships with co-workers and patients alike after leaving this position.
In 1978, Joe, Anne, and her family sold their home in Brooklyn, NY, and packed up for a move back to Ireland. While the family enjoyed reconnecting with relatives, Anne and her family ultimately decided to move back to the United States.
In the fall of 1979, the family packed a suitcase each and boarded an Amtrak train, and traveled from Brooklyn, NY to their new home state of Washington. Anne and Joe settled in Montesano enjoying the small-town community to continue raising their family. Anne resumed work as a CNA in Montesano and became an active member of St. John's Catholic Church.
After losing her husband in 1983, Anne began working for the Montesano School District while continuing to raise her children.
Anne loved being surrounded by her family and watching her grandchildren grow. In her free time, she enjoyed having coffee with friends, regular trips to the casino, rooting for the Seahawks and Mariners, baking pies, and her famous Irish Soda bread.
Anne suffered from health issues for the last several years that prevented her from being with friends and family as much as she would have liked. Those that knew Anne know that she was small in stature but was a force to be reckoned with. She was fiercely proud of her family and her legacy lives on through them.
Her five children survive her: son Patrick (Hisako) Mullarkey, daughters Jackie (Rick)Watkinson, Irene (Mike) Rupert, Trish Mullarkey (Dave Trefry), and Breege (Kevin) Orth; eleven grandchildren: Brandon (Nikki) Rupert, Erika (Oliver) Enquist, Brooke (Justin) DeBerg, Tyler (Amanda) Rupert, Connor Rupert, Andrew Watkinson, Sean Mullarkey, Joseph Trefry, Alison Orth, Ryan Orth, and Hannah Trefry; three great-grandchildren Dezirae Watkinson, Carson and Hayden DeBerg; brothers Paddy and Jimmy Cunnie and sister Patricia Cunnie.
She is preceded in death by her husband Joseph Mullarkey, brothers Johnny, Tommy, Brendan, and Bernie Cunnie, and sister Mae Cunnie.
A mass service will be held on December 16, 2022, at noon at St Johns Church in Montesano followed by a celebration of life at the church hall 1-4 p.m.