Carol Ann Mulkeen, 68, of Atlantic Highlands, passed away Feb. 16, 2023, after two years battling cancer. A daughter of the late Marion and George Theisen, Carol was born March 5, 1954, in Brooklyn, New York. Carol was raised in Middletown, then moved to Colts Neck where she lived for over 20 years before returning to the Bayshore area, living in Highlands and most recently Atlantic Highlands.
A Fordham University graduate, Carol studied anthropology and continued fulfilling her love of music by taking classes at Julliard where she studied opera. A talented singer with a passion for good music, she created a home for her family that was always filled with a soothing soundtrack, a smell of comforting homecooked meals, an infectious laugh and the most welcoming arms. Loved ones always looked forward to celebrating special occasions with Carol and her family, as everything she did, she did with immense amount of love, leaving the days to turn into long nights with no one wanting to be the first to leave.
As a devout Catholic, Carol loved sharing her faith with others. In recent years she became the director of religious education at St. Catherine’s Roman Catholic Church in Middletown and previously at OLPH in Highlands. Teaching came naturally. Her passion and love for the Holy Family flowed out of her with words of wisdom that were filled with compassion, understanding and the desire to educate all ages. Her calm and inviting demeanor allowed children to look forward to learning about their faith. As a CCD teacher she always had the perfect ending to each class: Homemade treats, of course! She was known to bake loaves of bread from scratch, whip up the most delicious cookies and create a cake from scratch that you will never want to leave your taste buds. Some may say it must be the recipe, but those closest to Carol knew, anything she made was made with love, her secret ingredient.
Carol had many jobs over the years. A trustworthy bookkeeper, creative pastry chef and designer of seasonal cookies, teacher and religious educator; but her most rewarding job of all was being a mother, creating a world for her three children where they always felt safe, encouraged and loved. Carol will always be fondly remembered as a devoted and loving mother, sister, aunt and friend to many.
Carol is survived by her husband John Mulkeen and their three children, a daughter Justine Mulkeen and her husband Daniel Skelton, and sons Nicholas Mulkeen and Sean Mulkeen. She also leaves behind her brother Steven Theisen and sister Lois, wife of Andrew Scott, and their children, Oscar and Isabella.
Friends and family were invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial Feb. 21 at St. Catherine Roman Catholic Church in Middletown. The burial and committal followed at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Carol’s memory to St. Catherine’s Roman Catholic Church, 110 Bray Ave., Middletown, NJ 07748. Please note “In Memory of Carol Ann.”
The article originally appeared in the March 9 – 15, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
