Anne Marie (Anna May) McNulty
(née McCormack)

Anne Marie “Anna May” (McCormack) McNulty, 94, of Wallingford, loving wife of the late Francis McNulty of County Leitrim, Ireland, passed away peacefully on May 16, 2021. Anna May was born in Fuerty, County Roscommon, Ireland on August 9, 1926, daughter of the late Patrick and Mary Anne (Kilroe) McCormack. She attended Fuerty National School and trained as a seamstress. She immigrated to New Haven in 1947 and began working as a seamstress as well as in the accounting department at Yale Co-op while earning her high school diploma and US citizenship. She then worked at SNET for several years. Anna May was introduced to Francis McNulty by her friend and future sister-in-law, Jennie. They were married at St. Mary’s Church, New Haven on July 2, 1955. They moved to Michigan and she transferred to Michigan Bell. Anna May and Francis lived there for a few years before returning to the Westville area of New Haven and later settled in Wallingford.

Anna May was an active member of the Pioneers of the Sacred Heart, St. Mary’s Center in New Haven for over 60 years, including secretary for 20 years. She was a member of the Irish American Community Center of East Haven and was awarded Woman of the Year in 1995. Anna May was a devoted parishioner of St. Aedan’s Church in Westville and then at Most Holy Trinity Church in Wallingford for 47 years. She was always ready to volunteer for the Pioneers, the Irish Club, the Irish festival, church bazaars, election day registration, school and Irish dancing events, and babysitting for her grandkids.

Anna May had a deep love for her family and her Irish heritage and had precious, vivid memories of her dear homeland of Roscommon. She was an avid reader and also enjoyed listening to Irish music, sewing, crocheting, puzzles, feeding the birds and nurturing her plants. Anna May’s greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren, being an important part of their lives and making sure she attended all of their milestone events, whether they be in Connecticut, North Carolina or Ireland.  She planned her trips around her grandchildren’s lives for the past 38 years.

Anna May was dedicated to raising her children and grandchildren to be faithful and respectful, and to hold onto their Irish heritage. She made many sacrifices to provide them with a Catholic education and held a special devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Her strong faith, kindness and gentle manner made an impact on many friends and family.

She is survived by her two daughters, Eileen Downey (late Thomas) and Anne Marie Canning (Brendan); her three sons Patrick (Julie), Francis (Susan), and Michael (Amy); 18 grandchildren, John, James, Katie, Cara, Patrick and Mary McNulty; Michael (Shannon), Thomas, Mairead, and Roisin Downey; Francis and Morgan McNulty; Michael, Anna and Meghan McNulty, and Sean, Brendan and Molly Anne Canning; two precious great grandchildren, Hayley and Michael Downey; sisters-in-law Kathleen Williams, Teresa Kelly, Marguerite Jackson, Vera McCormack, Mary McCormack and Eileen McCormack; and many beloved godchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends; especially her dear friend, Freda McDermott. She is predeceased by infant son, Francis Gerard; sister, Kathleen Feerick; brothers, Joseph, Thomas, James and John W. McCormack; sisters-in-law, Jennie Flynn and Dorothy McCormack; brothers-in-law, John Feerick and Michael McNulty; son-in-law, Thomas Downey; and many beloved relatives and friends that she missed dearly.

Anna May’s family will receive relatives and friends at The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main Street Ext. on Sunday, May 23, 2021 from 2 pm until 5 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am on Monday directly at Most Holy Trinity Church in Wallingford. You can view her Mass via livestream by going to her webpage at www.wallingfordfh.com at 11 am on Monday. Interment will be in All Saints Cemetery in North Haven. In lieu of flowers, you may send donations in Anna May’s name to the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 295 Benham Street, Hamden, CT 06514.