Elinor Louise Mullins

On Saturday, December 31, 2022, Elinor Louise Mullins, loving mother, sister, and grandmother, passed away after a short illness. Ellie was born in Brookline, MA, to Cornelius and Sarah (Dunster) Buckley on March 21st, 1934. Ellie was one of ten children and the stories of her childhood growing up with a policeman father were legendary. She loved to retell the stories and laugh. Ellie was a good student who graduated from Brookline High School and got her bachelor’s degree from Framingham State University. Ellie remained friendly with many of her FSU classmates. Last summer, she proudly attended her 65th college reunion.

Ellie was always enthusiastic, intellectually curious, and impeccably dressed. While getting her bachelor’s degree in education, Ellie spent the summers working in Chicago, Nantucket, and Cambridge. After teaching fourth grade for several years, she made a fateful trip to southern California where she met her future husband, Ed, a helicopter pilot stationed at El Toro Naval Air Station in Santa Ana California. Ellie and Ed were married within a year and moved to Connecticut where Ed took a job as a Helicopter Test Pilot for Sikorsky/United Technologies. After eleven years living in Stratford and Trumbull, Connecticut, Ellie, and Ed moved with their growing family to Fairfax, Virginia, where they immersed themselves in the community. After her son John was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, she helped found a Tourette Syndrome support group in Virginia to help other families and remained actively involved with both that and NAMI (National Alliance for Mentally Ill) for 20+ years. Upon retirement, Ellie and Ed moved to Falmouth, MA on Cape Cod where they lived for 17 years. Ellie became actively involved with the Newcomers and Encore groups. She loved taking trips around New England with the groups and attending educational and museum events. She made friends wherever she went.

Ellie traveled extensively around the world during their marriage. In the last few years, you could often find Ellie and Ed strolling along the boardwalk at Nantasket Beach.

Ellie is survived by her husband of 63 years Ed, their children, Brian Mullins, Susan Mullins, and John Mullins, daughter-in-law Diane (Wittmann) Mullins and grandchildren, Erin Mullins, and Colin Mullins. She is predeceased by her daughter Maureen (Mullins) Yankovitz. A gathering to remember Ellie will be held Sunday, January 8th from 1:00-4:00 PM, at 10 Ingham Lane in Concord.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that any donations be given to Framingham State University in her name.