Bunny Mullins crossed the finish line on Sept. 16, 2026, three days after accomplishing her final goal, living to be 95, like her mother. She led an ordinary and remarkable life.
Born on Sept. 13, 1931, during the Great Depression, the third of four children of John and Nora Dougherty, she was raised in “South” River Forest (an important distinction to her) in a household that also included her grandmother, aunt and uncle. The love, music and dancing were abundant, and there was always one more seat at the table. She never knew a stranger.
She overcame her share of adversity — a polio and cancer survivor and losing many loved ones along the way — but she was never down for long. Her determination and willpower carried her through.
She was a graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School and the Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School, where she met her best friend, Mary Jane (Stamm) Joslin. She worked at Time Magazine in downtown Chicago until she became pregnant with her first child, Tim, and was no longer allowed to work. She was always proud of the fact that her savings from this job allowed her and her husband, Edward, to buy their first home on the South Side of Chicago. They eventually settled in River Forest, and raised their eight children across the street from the house she grew up in.
In 1964, she and Edward started the E.J. Mullins Co., which is still in business today, employing the third generation of family members. While not involved in running the business after the first few years (she was busy raising the future employees), her work ethic and guidance were an example.
She would always say she never had a favorite grandchild, but “honorable mention” goes to Katie Nora, daughter of John and Norine, who was her roommate and right-hand woman for the last two years.
As the matriarch of a large family, she wore many hats, but reveled in her career as a water aerobics instructor at Gottlieb Health and Fitness Center. She began that chapter at the age of 70, and worked there until COVID shut the club down, just shy of her 89th birthday.
loved spending time at her home in Lily Lake, road trips, Old Fashioned cocktails, music of the 1940s (especially Glenn Miller), belting out a tune, the color yellow, and all children and babies. Her Irish heritage was a source of great pride, and St. Patrick’s Day celebrated on Madison Street was a highlight of her year.
Bunny was preceded in death by her parents, John and Nora Dougherty, her brother Jack (the late Lois), her sisters, Bliss Gillespie and Bobbie (the late Tom) Sullivan, and grandson, Patrick Mullins.
She is survived by her children, Tim (Mabel), Mark (Eileen), Maureen (Brian) Connelly, Kevin, Molly (Tom) Swock, Meg (Kurt) Amen, John (Norine), and Terrence (Erica); 24 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews in the hundreds.
Visitation will be held at Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Road, Westchester, IL, on Sept. 23 from 3 to 8 p.m. On Sept. 24, an 11 a.m. funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Luke Church, 7600 Lake St., River Forest, IL (which will be livestreamed). Interment will be private at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Misericordia Home in the name of Molly Mullins #6417A.