Obituaries
Serving Our Community Since 1951Irving L. “Bud” Cullen Jr., age 84, of Stratford, beloved husband of Annette (Couture) Cullen, his high school sweetheart, loving mate and best friend, who were married for 64 years passed away Friday December 23, 2022. He was born September 3, 1938, in Stratford, one of ten children of the late Irving L. and Evelyn (Peck) Cullen Sr.
Irv’s favorite sport was baseball, playing for Raybestos in the Stratford Original Little League (where he had a cameo appearance on the Happy Felton’s “Knothole Gang Show” prior to the Brooklyn Dodgers game at Ebbets Field), Honeyspot Pony League and four years at Stratford High School. He was Stratford High’s team captain in 1956 and spent four years as captain on American Legion Post 42. He also coached Little League and Pony in Stratford. After high school he became a printer in folding carton for Warner Rexham for 29 years, then went on to Hemingway Press in Waterbury, finishing his career at Curtis Packaging in Newtown.
His most important thing in life was family. He loved getting together on holidays, birthdays and cooking for the group, keeping the house up and cutting the lawn. He was an avid game player - especially cribbage, scat, and pinochle with his family. He also loved camping with family and close family friends, the Jankuras, on many vacations.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by five sisters, Evelyn, Ethel Mae, Linda, Dorothy, Kathleen and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by the four best ever children and mates, Larry and Lisa Cullen, Sherry and Tony Fugia, Gary Cullen and Nancy Oman and Terry and Ron Nolting; five grandchildren, Kaileen Cullen (George Dummar), Kristyn Rausch (Doug), Stephanie Nolting, Matthew Nolting (Alicia Buynovsky) and Nicholas Nolting (Julia Christo). He is also survived by his first great grandchild, Oliver Culpepper Nolting. He thoroughly enjoyed watching all his grandkids games; as he would say “they were the greatest.”
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by four brothers, Richard, William, James and Robert and several extended family members.
Dad/Pop was beloved by all, touched many lives and had a special nickname for everyone. He was the rock of our family and will be missed more than words can describe. He was our hero and bravely fought Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) with a smile and kindness to all the staff at Smilow Cancer Center, Trumbull CT. Our heartfelt thanks to the wonderful care they provided.
Friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. by meeting directly in Saint Mark Church, 500 Wigwam Lane, Stratford.
Interment will follow in Saint Michael’s Cemetery, Stratford.
Friends may visit with his family Tuesday evening from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the William R. McDonald Funeral Home, 2591 Main St, Stratford.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the LLS, https://givenow.lls.org (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society).
For additional information or to leave a condolence message, visit www.wrmcdonaldfuneralhome.com.
To plant a tree in memory of Irving L. "Bud" Cullen Jr., visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
27
Dec
2591 Main Street
Stratford, CT 06615
Funeral Mass of Christian Burial
28
Dec
500 Wigwam Lane
Stratford, CT 06614
Interment
28
Dec
2205 Stratford Avenue
Stratford, CT 06615