A tireless volunteer, Lucille Cullen, died Tuesday, July 26, at the age of 91. Cullen was national president of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada (CWL) from 1990 to 1992. During this time, she visited the Vatican and she attended an audience with St. Pope John Paul II.
Cullen was born in Belleville and grew up in Toronto and Ottawa. She was married for 67 years to Michael James “Jim” Cullen, owner of the Frood Safety Company for more than 45 years. Jim died in March of this year.
The couple moved to Sudbury in 1956 and became one of the founding families of St. Andrew the Apostle Church.
Cullen was a devoted member of CWL. In addition to serving as national president, she was Ontario president, and Sault Ste. Marie diocesan president. She was honoured with a lifetime membership in the organization.
She most recently received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontific medal also known as the Cross of Honour Medal, an award conferred by Pope Francis for distinguished service to the Roman Catholic Church.
Cullen was regional director for the Arthritis Society in northeastern Ontario from 1974 to 1994. She supervised volunteer activities in fundraising, public education and patient needs in more than 60 northern communities. Her efforts led to the opening the Sudbury office in 1993 after countless volunteers raised $4.1 million for arthritis research.
She is survived by her children: Louise of Toronto; Susan of Port Perry; Denise and Annette of Waterloo; and Jim and Michael of Sudbury. She had 19 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
A funeral mass was held Saturday, July 30 at St. Andrew the Apostle Church.
