Bernard “Bernie” Patrick Mullins
February 10, 1932 - December 5, 2017
Bernie Patrick Mullins passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 in San Mateo. Family and friends had a chance to spend time with Bernie during the last few weeks of his life at the wonderful and caring Mission Hospice Home in San Mateo.
Family, faith and music were the main focus of Bernie’s life and a thread through the communities he touched from San Francisco to San Mateo, Oakland and Seattle. Bernie was a first generation San Franciscan, born on Treat Street in San Francisco to Daniel Sr. and Mary (Kearney) Mullins. Bernie graduated from St. Peter’s Catholic School (now part of Sacred Heart) in 1949 and spent a few years at St. Mary’s College studying to be a Christian Brother. Fate stepped in when Bernie left school to help his family by entering the workforce. After a few years of various jobs Bernie began his 43 years with Shasta Beverages, making the syrup that went into everyone’s favorite sodas. The change in direction also included Bernie meeting his future wife, Mary Elizabeth Hunt. The couple married on April 4, 1959 and proceeded to have four children in five years, Tom, Kay, Maureen and John. Over the years Bernie spent significant time bringing the Word of the Lord to others, either through direct involvement with the church, their associated schools and/or delivering communion to the sick and elderly. Bernie counted many priests and monsignors as his friends and was well known by the St. Matthews Catholic community of San Mateo given his song leadership of the congregation every Sunday, including three masses, for 35 years. Bernie then when on to become a permanent fixture at Our Lady of Lourdes in Oakland and then to Our Lady of Fatima in Seattle, Washington.
Bernie was very proud of being 100% Irish, with both of his parents coming from Ireland. Bernie always had a smile on his face, a twinkle in his eye and was known to belt out Danny Boy and many other tunes at anyplace, anytime. Bernie had the chance to visit Ireland in 2002, spending time walking the streets his mother and father had when they were children.
Bernie was preceded in death by his daughter Maureen, parents, sisters Patricia (Collins) and Isabelle (Fos), brothers Daniel Jr., William, John and James and many in-laws, nieces and nephews.
Bernie is survived by his wife, Mary, daughter Kay (Pitman), sons Tom and John, daughter-in-laws Barbara and Joan, son-in-law Tom Carl, granddaughters Monika Mullins and Stephanie Pitman, grandsons Sean and Troy Mullins, sister Sr. Mary Lorraine (Marge) Mullins, sister-in-laws Angee Hunt and Barbara HuntEckrote, brother-in-law Robert Hunt, along with many family and friends.
Family and friends are invited to a memorial mass that will be held at St. Catherine’s Church at 1310 Bayswaters Ave, Burlingame on Saturday, January 13, 2018, at 10:00am with burial in St. John’s Cemetery immediately following the mass.
In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Bernie’s name to Mission Hospice House Campaign at www. missionhospice.org/donate/ hospice-house-campaign.