Adelaide Fanny Mullen

Obituary Adelaide (Lenti) Mullen, 88, a longtime Tacoma resident, died Thursday, February 8th at her home. Adelaide was born June 1, 1918 in Tacoma, the daughter of Andrew C. Lenti and Carolina (Pedroni) Lenti. She spent her childhood in the south end of Tacoma and attended Lincoln High School. She was preceded in death by her husband of thirty-six years, former Tacoma educator and coach, Daniel P. Mullen, and sisters, Teresa Lenti Borra and Louise Lenti Wotton. Adelaide and Dan married on January 27, 1940 and lived briefly in Coupeville, Whidbey Island, before settling in University Place where they raised their family. Their home was the site of many large family gatherings. Always proud of her Italian heritage, Adelaide never tired of telling her grandchildren about her mother's ravioli or her father's garden. Adelaide remembered fondly her years as an secretary for Tacoma Public Schools and for the Legislative sessions in Olympia. However, her favorite role was that of grandmother and great-grandmother. She even attended a play that three of her great-grandchildren were in just days before her death. She loved to travel, taking her first overseas trip to Europe in 1973. One of her favorite trips was visiting her cousins in northern Italy. She was a valued friend to many and maintained a group of friends from high school days including her beloved sister-in-law and best friend, Irma Strom. The "Valeda Girls" started meeting in 1935 and throughout the past 70 plus years, the "girls" have met for monthly lunch dates at one another's homes. In 1998 she bought a condo at the Tacoma Lutheran Retirement Community where she joyfully lived until she passed from this life peacefully in her sleep. She was an incredible mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved her family dearly and delighted in family gatherings, planning family mini-vacations or dinners out, usually to an Italian restaurant. She took in all the wonders of life, Wrapped them in a colorful package And gave it to us. Survivors include a daughter, Kathleen (Michael) Stork; a son, Daniel (Donna) Mullen; five grandchildren, Daniel (Julie) Mullen, Darren (Lori) Mullen, David (Anne) Mullen, Rachel Stork and Jim Stork; one brother, Paul Lenti; sister and brother-in-law, Irma and Norm Strom. ten great-grandchildren, Ryan, Megan, Luke, McKenzie, Karlie, Lindsey, Kate, Sean, Amanda and J.T.; nieces Gloria (Nick) Tucci, Janice Lenti (Alan) Myers, Vicki Lenti, Carolyn Lenti (Tracy) Anspach, Suzanne Strom Simchuk, Maureen Mullen Kramer; nephews, Greg (Char) Lenti, Mark (Kathy) Strom, Norman (Julie) Strom, and Mike Mullen. Viewing on Wed. Feb. 14, 2007 9 a.m. at Gaffney Funeral Home Chapel, 1002 S. Yakima Avenue. A memorial service celebrating Adelaide Mullen's life is scheduled for Thursday, February 15th at 11:30 am at the Tacoma Lutheran Community Chapel, Family Grave side services will be at 10:00 am Thursday Feb. 15, 07 at Calvary Cemetery. Remembrances may be made to St. Leo's Food Connection at 710 13th Street, Tacoma, WA 98405 or The Tacoma Rescue Mission, PO Box 1912, Tacoma 98401.