Obituary for James Cullen James D. Cullen, age 71, died at home on Wednesday, October 3, 2018, following a battle with cancer. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on August 29, 1947, son of Eileen V. Cullen and the late James W. Cullen. Jim was proud to be the oldest of eleven children in a close-knit, fun-loving family.
Jim graduated from Cathedral Prep in Erie in 1965, John Carroll University in Cleveland, OH in 1969, and the University of Pittsburgh Law School in 1972. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1969-1977 and was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain. After law school, Jim joined the law firm of MacDonald, Illig, Jones and Britton in Erie PA.
He was the firm’s managing partner from 1988 through 1997 and continued to practice law until his death. He served on the boards of many Erie area charities, including The Erie Community Foundation, Harborcreek Youth Services, Friends of L’Arche, Hamot Foundation, and the Cathedral Prep and Villa Maria Academy Boards. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his sister, Rebecca Marie Cullen, in 1977.
He is survived by his best friend, love, co-conspirator, and wife, Rose J. Cullen (Rosie), and four children from his marriage to Eileen D. Cullen: Karen S. Cullen and her husband John B. Hines, Julie M. Cullen and her husband William L. Brosius, James W. Cullen II and his wife Julie, and Michael B. Cullen. He is also survived by his three beloved, adored, and long-awaited grandchildren, Quinlan T. Cullen, James D. Cullen II, and Georgia J. Cullen. Jim is also survived by his siblings: Kathleen M. Meola, Robert D. Cullen, Nancy M. Cullen, Doreen T. Rosenbaum and her husband William, David M. Cullen, Joseph T. Cullen and his wife Connie, Daniel T. Cullen and his wife Annette, Brian P. Cullen and his wife Ellie, and Carol A. Hutzel and her husband, David C. Hutzel, M.D. Also surviving are two of Jim’s very favorite aunts: Rita Marie Cullen LaVoie and Jean Cullen, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Jim was loved as fiercely as he loved and was devoted to as deeply as he was devoted. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and the many whose lives he touched. His personal code and personification of honesty, loyalty, and honor is a legacy his children and grandchildren will protect and cherish.
The family wishes to extend a very special thank you to Denny Seth from Great Lakes Hospice, whose compassion, kind humor, and constant care made Jim’s last days comfortable and peaceful. Friends may call at the Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Road, on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. and are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Jude the Apostle Church on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.. Private burial at Laurel Hill Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Mother Teresa Academy (160 West 11th Street, Erie, PA 16501) or The Cathedral Prep/Villa Maria Academy Scholarship Fund at John Carroll University (Attn: Development Office, 20700 North Park Blvd. , University Heights, OH 44118-4581). To send flowers to the family of James Cullen, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
Order Flowers James D. Cullen 1947 – 2018 Click above to light a memorial candle. Send Flowers Plant a Tree In Memory of Your Loved One Click Here Menu Subscribe to Updates Click Here Obituary for James Cullen James D. Cullen, age 71, died at home on Wednesday, October 3, 2018, following a battle with cancer. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on August 29, 1947, son of Eileen V. Cullen and the late James W. Cullen.
Jim was proud to be the oldest of eleven children in a close-knit, fun-loving family. Jim graduated from Cathedral Prep in Erie in 1965, John Carroll University in Cleveland, OH in 1969, and the University of Pittsburgh Law School in 1972. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1969-1977 and was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain.
After law school, Jim joined the law firm of MacDonald, Illig, Jones and Britton in Erie PA. He was the firm’s managing partner from 1988 through 1997 and continued to practice law until his death. He served on the boards of many Erie area charities, including The Erie Community Foundation, Harborcreek Youth Services, Friends of L’Arche, Hamot Foundation, and the Cathedral Prep and Villa Maria Academy Boards.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his sister, Rebecca Marie Cullen, in 1977. He is survived by his best friend, love, co-conspirator, and wife, Rose J. Cullen (Rosie), and four children from his marriage to Eileen D. Cullen: Karen S. Cullen and her husband John B. Hines, Julie M. Cullen and her husband William L. Brosius, James W. Cullen II and his wife Julie, and Michael B. Cullen. He is also survived by his three beloved, adored, and long-awaited grandchildren, Quinlan T. Cullen, James D. Cullen II, and Georgia J. Cullen.
Jim is also survived by his siblings: Kathleen M. Meola, Robert D. Cullen, Nancy M. Cullen, Doreen T. Rosenbaum and her husband William, David M. Cullen, Joseph T. Cullen and his wife Connie, Daniel T. Cullen and his wife Annette, Brian P. Cullen and his wife Ellie, and Carol A. Hutzel and her husband, David C. Hutzel, M.D. Also surviving are two of Jim’s very favorite aunts: Rita Marie Cullen LaVoie and Jean Cullen, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. Jim was loved as fiercely as he loved and was devoted to as deeply as he was devoted. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and the many whose lives he touched.
His personal code and personification of honesty, loyalty, and honor is a legacy his children and grandchildren will protect and cherish. The family wishes to extend a very special thank you to Denny Seth from Great Lakes Hospice, whose compassion, kind humor, and constant care made Jim’s last days comfortable and peaceful. Friends may call at the Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Road, on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. and are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Jude the Apostle Church on Saturday at 10:30 a.m..
Private burial at Laurel Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Mother Teresa Academy (160 West 11th Street, Erie, PA 16501) or The Cathedral Prep/Villa Maria Academy Scholarship Fund at John Carroll University (Attn: Development Office, 20700 North Park Blvd. , University Heights, OH 44118-4581).
To send flowers to the family of James Cullen, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
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