Obituary of Patricia E Whalen

On September 2, 2013, Patricia E. (Bulger) Whalen, our beloved mother and grandmother, passed into eternal life surrounded by her loving family. She was born on March 17, 1920 in Binghamton, NY to Patrick and Mary (Burns) Bulger. Patricia was a graduate of Binghamton Central High School and the Charles S. Wilson Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, Class of 1941. She enlisted in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and served in WWII as a 1st lieutenant in the 232nd General Hospital on the Pacific Islands of Saipan, Guam, and Iwo Jima. She continued her nursing career working as a private duty R.N. at Lourdes and Wilson Hospitals prior to starting her family and then again after her children were grown. Patricia was predeceased by her husband, John F. and siblings, Edward and Donald Bulger, Marion Hogan-Levene, Eleanor Juraska, Margaret Brown and Barbara Hunt. Patricia is survived by her daughters, Sharon Whalen, Mary and Ghassem Mangouri; her sons, John and Mary Ellen Whalen, Walter and Janine Whalen (Hatboro, PA), Philip and Susan Whalen, Brian and Barbara Whalen, and Mark Whalen. She dearly loved her 13 grandchildren and four great grandchildren, John (Cortney), Patrick, Daniel, Dustin, Samuel, Sarah, Megan (fianc Michael White), and Carly Whalen, Kerry (Jonathan) Charpinsky, Katie (Brian) Donlin, Shahram (Danielle), Kaivan, and Bijan Mangouri. Her great grandchildren include Moira and Emma Whalen, Jacob Charpinsky, and Clare Donlin. Patricia is also survived by her sister-in-law, T. Jane Levene (Cooperstown, NY) and William Whalen; numerous cousins, nephews and nieces, including a special niece, Patricia Juraska-Smith. Patricia was a caring and loving individual who had a strong devotion to her family and faith. She was a founding member of St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Church and currently a member of Saints John and Andrew Roman Catholic Church. She was also an associate of the Sisters of Saint Mary of Namur in Buffalo, NY. Pat was a member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians and proud of her Irish heritage. She will be dearly missed by all whose lives she touched. A Funeral Mass will be offered at the Church of Saints John and Andrew, Vestal Avenue, Binghamton Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Johnson City. The family will receive friends at the J.A. McCormack Sons Funeral Home, 141 Main Street, Binghamton Friday from 2-6 p.m. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Pat may be made to the Retired Professional Firefighters Cancer Fund, 4 Loretta Drive, Binghamton, NY 13905 or the Sisters of Saint Mary of Namur Infirmary Fund, 241 LaFayette Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14213.