Name: Calling hours for Phyllis Mulkerne
Start: 2017-02-18T17:00:00.000Z
End: 2017-02-18T19:00:00.000Z
Location: Dimbleby Funeral Homes, Inc. - Whitesboro

Phyllis Mulkerne 1958 - 2017
WHITESBORO, NY - Phyllis Mulkerne, age 58, passed away, suddenly in the arms of her husband, on Sunday, February 12, 2017.
Phyllis was born in Queens, New York, the fourth child and only daughter of Mary Cicione Giegerich and Edmund Giegerich. Phyllis grew up in Massapequa Park, NY, and graduated from Massapequa High School in 1976. She attended Nassau County Community College and SUNY Utica-Rome, earning her BS in Nursing in 1980.
Phyllis worked at Little Falls Hospital, as a charge nurse, in the medical surgical unit, from 1980-85, and was employed, in the ICU, at St. Luke's Hospital in New Hartford, NY, until 1988. Phyllis then worked as a high-tech nurse with Oxford Home Care for 30 years. An extremely skilled and devoted nurse, she found her niche in caring for pediatric and young adult patients, advocating for all aspects of their physical and emotional needs. Her value to Oxford was immeasurable and her untimely passing has left a tremendous void. Phyllis's many years of loyalty and dedication will always be appreciated.
Phyllis met her life partner and true love, Brian Mulkerne, soon after moving to Utica, in 1978. They immediately and intensely connected, and were united in marriage in June 1985, a 38 year union that would last the rest of her life and lead them to build a warm, loving home for their family. The Mulkernes enjoyed visiting Cape Cod, MA, and the Finger Lakes region, enjoying live music, hiking nearby Adirondack trails, taking long drives together, and hosting gatherings for family and friends.
Phyllis and Brian together raised three children, Sean (of London, UK), Emily (of Queens, NY), and Joseph Mulkerne (of Chittenango, NY). Phyllis was a devoted mother, singularly focused on providing for, guiding and comforting her children throughout her life. She was a consistent source of strength and support to Sean and Emily as they have grown and relocated. Most importantly, she and Brian have been tireless guardians to their autistic son Joseph, setting their needs aside to ensure his care and development.
Phyllis is survived by her husband, Brian; her mother, Mary; her children, Sean (Laura), Emily and Joseph; her brothers, Edmund Giegerich (Denise), Paul Giegerich (Nancy) and Ronald Giegerich; and her dog Sadie.
The Mulkerne family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the Tradewinds Education Center and the Kelberman Center, in Utica, NY, for their continued support to Joseph, and to family and friends for their thoughts and prayers.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2017, under the direction of Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral Home, located at 40 Main Street, Whitesboro, NY 13492. Relatives and friends are invited and may call from 12-2 p.m., with a Memorial Service beginning at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish may send memorial contributions to the Kelberman Center or the American Heart Association.
For online expressions of sympathy please go to www.dfwefh.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Observer-Dispatch from Feb. 16 to Feb. 17, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Phyllis Mulkerne

Sponsored by Dimbleby Funeral Homes, Inc. - Whitesboro.

20 Entries

Emily Mulkerne

September 3, 2025

Happy Birthday, Mom.

I am missing you a lot this morning. You would have been 67 today. We'd be gearing up for my wedding next month. This is an exciting time, but I just wish you were here to share it with me. There isn't a single day that's gone by where you haven't crossed my mind. I wish you were here to celebrate your birthday with us, especially since mine is right around the corner. 9/3 and 9/10 are always just a week apart. I'll be 35 then, and it's so weird to think that I was 26 the last time you saw me. I've grown up so much since then. I really hope that I still make you proud. There's so many things I want to tell you about my life now. I wish you were here for it all. I always will.

I love you, Mom. I'll celebrate you today and always.

Love,
- Em

Emily Mulkerne

September 18, 2024

Hey Mom,

I was just thinking of you today. Our birthdays, always a week apart, have passed. You would have been 66 this year. I wish more than anything that we could have celebrated together. I still see gifts you would like. I hear new songs you would have loved. I get new gossip you'd love to know. I wish it had somewhere to go instead of living as a "what if" in the back of my mind.

I miss you all the time. I'm getting married next year and I wish you were here to talk things out. To help me plan. We always talked about when this day would come, and it's awful that you'll never get to see it happen. You'd love my partner. You'd be so happy to see us together. It makes me miss you more when I think of what's not possible. I promise that I have plans to honor you on my wedding day. I want to feel your presence. I don't want you to be forgotten. I've thought about you every day since you left. It doesn't get easier, just more tolerable.

Mom, I love you and miss you so much. Please never stray to fair. Even though I'm 34 now, I still need my mom.

Thank you for leaving me with so much love that it'll last me a lifetime. I love you more than you can even imagine.

Love always,
- Em

Emily Mulkerne

May 23, 2022

Hi Mom,

It's been 5 years, but somehow I still find myself checking this page. You are so loved and missed, especially by me. I think of you every day, and still tear up each time. You've missed so much of what I've been doing. I'm finally out of the city, I'm getting married to someone I love so much, and I'm doing all of these things that I wish I could talk to you about. You'd be so proud. So much of my life has changed since I last saw you. It's so hard to celebrate that sometimes. I always want to talk to you - whether it be about celebrity gossip, aches and pains I'm worried about, or mundane things at home. Grief has shown me just how deeply love can go. I never could imagine you not in my life, but now I've had to experience it for 5 years. My grieving for you never truly goes away. I try to look at is as a reminder of how much you were loved and still loved by me. I miss you more than words could ever truly say.

On this random day in May, I'm thinking of you.

I love you, Mom, and I always will.

- Emily

And if you, reader, are looking at this page randomly too, thank you for thinking of my mom. That means more than you'll ever know.

Brian Mulkerne

March 16, 2017

This Thing Between You and Me

Well its late at night, and were laying in bed
and I'm watching the shadows on the wall
My mind will wander when I can't sleep
and those voices start to call
Thoughts about the future fill my head
and I wonder how I'll find my way
But then I can feel you laying there by my side
And I know everything will be okay

I've had quite a life, I've got lot's to reflect on
Though I've never been far from here
And it never really mattered to me where I was
Just as long as you were near
I can't believe I've had you all to myself
For all these years gone by
I could never spend my life with anyone else
I swear I'll be with you till I die

And when that day comes, I know you'll hold my hand
And I'll look in your eyes and we'll smile
Because we both know we'll be together forever
Not just for a little while

Well you changed my world the day that we met
And nothings ever been the same
And I know in my heart, that long after we're gone
Our love will still remain
'Cuz our amazing children will carry it on
And nothing else will really change
They'll pass on the love that we've had together
There will always be a flame

Solo

So don't worry about the future (pause)
It's really not ours to keep
All we can do is do the best that we can
just have faith and take a leap
Because in the end, it all works out
And no one's really keeping score
And the things that today seem so damn important
Won't matter much anymore

So let's keep a smile on our face, and give ourselves a break
And try to give each other as much love as we can take
Because the only thing we have that's really at stake is each other

The only thing that's ever stood the test of time
Is this thing between you and me
It's all each of us ever really had in this life
Together we set each other free
It will never really end, it will always live on
Time doesn't really mean a thing
Because the love that we have, has a life of it's own
And it will last for eternity
It will last for eternity

February 21, 2017

So sorry to hear of your lost. Your wife was a very caring person. My deepest condolences to you and your family.

Sam Brodie Quebec, Canada

Dorothy Raynor

February 20, 2017

Brian and Family, Phyllis was my son, Jacobs, nurse for years. She was the smartest most competent nurse we had. Phyllis was a tremendous support to my husband and myself when things got rough. We are deeply saddened by her passing. Our sincerest condolences for such a tremendous loss.
Dale & Dorothy Raynor

William Gazitano

February 18, 2017

My deepest condolences to you, Brian and to your family.

Lori Roberts

February 18, 2017

Phyllis, I'll never forgot the good times we had May god wrap you in his love and light

February 18, 2017

Phyllis was a wonderful person.....they truly got a loving new angel in Heaven right now. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. God Bless. Love to all. Terry and Bob Jones

Ellen M. Hedderman

February 17, 2017

Brian and Family,

I just want to take this opportunity to extend my condolences on Phyllis's passing. I had the privilege of meeting her at various functions at your parents' home in Delmar, as well as at the Bethlehem Town Pool, and enjoyed talking with her.

Again, please accept my sympathies on your loss, and I'm thinking of you and all the Mulkernes during this difficult time.

Love,

Ellen

Tim & Linda Potts

February 17, 2017

Brian, Our sincerest condolences to you and your family. You all are in our thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Tim and Linda Potts

Jim Boone

February 17, 2017

I think of Phyllis as a loving wife and passionate mom who loved her family, home and always was ready to help anyone in time of need. You are in our hearts Phyllis forever.

Marie McCarthy

February 17, 2017

Brian: Our thoughts are with you and your family..Marie & Linda

Bob Hebert

February 17, 2017

Very sorry for your loss. Bob Hebert

February 17, 2017

Brian,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Our prayers are with you.
Jean Verdegaal Fanniff

Sarah Burton

February 17, 2017

Dear Brian, Mary, Joe, Sean and Emily,
We cannot imagine the sense of loss you must feel and you are constantly in our thoughts. We loved the time we spent with you at your home for Laura and Sean's wedding and could not have felt more welcome. We are tremendously sorry we cannot be there to offer anything in person but we send our love and prayers from across the ocean.
Sarah, Matt and Henry x

Suzanne McGraw

February 17, 2017

Brian,

We are so sad to hear of your lovely wife's passing. Sending our love and condolences from NC.

Love,
The McGraw's

February 17, 2017

Brian- I am so sorry to read of your lovely wife's death. My sympathy.

Mary Ellen Fitzgerald

American Heart Association

February 16, 2017

May your memories of the wonderful times you shared with your loved one comfort you and your family, today and always.

Mary Pugh

February 16, 2017

Dear Brian and family.So sorry to hear about the lost of your dear wife.I well remember your love for her. Will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. With love, Mary Pugh

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