Mr. William J. Mulvey, Jr., of Taunton, died peacefully Sunday, September 25 at his residence following a year of failing health. He was the beloved husband of the late Lorraine Mary (Riendeau) Mulvey and, following her passing, the loving companion of Norma (Nichols) Cote. He was born 84 years ago in Taunton, the son of the late William J. and Helen “Nellie” (Russell) Mulvey, Sr. He was educated in Taunton, having graduated from St. Mary’s Grammar School, attended the former Msgr. James Coyle High School, which he left to fulfill his service to his country, and graduated from Taunton High School. He was also a graduate of the former New England Institute of Anatomy and Sanitary Science in Boston. Prior to his retirement, Bill owned and operated the Riendeau Funeral Home of Taunton for 34 years, assuming the operation of the family business following the tragic death of his father-in-law, Henry Riendeau in 1962. Upon his retirement, he remained active in the profession, assisting his son to whom the funeral home was passed in 1996. His gentle care for those he served and his warm and humorous personality for the countless people he assisted throughout his life brought solace to all.
A well-known and talented pianist and composer, Bill played professionally for many years in the Taunton area, in Boston, on Cape Cod and, for a number of years on Miami Beach, Florida in some of the more famous hotels and nightspots, including the Castaways and the Fontainbleu Hotels. Upon returning to Taunton, in 1963 he was approached by city officials, who requested that he compose an appropriate anthem for the city’s upcoming year-long Centennial Celebration, which was held throughout 1964. “Taunton, Mass.” was believed to be the most requested and played song on local radio WPEP throughout that year.
He was a member of “The Greatest Generation,” having served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Princeton during World War II, and was a plank holder which he received during her decommissioning ceremony.
Bill was a member of the Msgr. James Coyle Council #82, Knights of Columbus, was a former member of the Taunton Lions Club, L’Union St. Jean Baptiste, Conseil #53, and the Ligue du Sacre Coeur. He was also a Life Member of the Taunton Lodge of Elks #150, as well as a proud member of the David F. Adams Post #611, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was appointed as an Instructor in Applied Embalming and Restorative Arts by the former New England Institute of Anatomy and Sanitary Science. He was a recipient of the “Golden Clam” for his longtime relationship and participation at Bay View in Bourne, where he spent some of his most memorable and cherished moments of his later years.
Bill enjoyed playing cards with several groups of friends over the years, exercised religiously throughout his life, and spent many happy hours playing golf with some of his closest friends, especially at the Falcon Course at the Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod, where he built his reputation as “The World’s Fastest Golfer.” During his later years, he enjoyed sharing his musical artistry with well known singing performances at the Chart Room in Cataumet, sharing the spotlight with Eddie Scheer and Ray Rose. Some of his fondest memories were of the many winters spent with his late wife in Pompano Beach, Florida.
He was a devoted communicant of St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Taunton.
In addition to his wonderful companion, Norma Cote of Taunton, Bill leaves 2 sons: William G. Mulvey and his companion, Janet Smith, and Geoffrey M. Mulvey, both of Taunton; a brother: Edward “Ted” Mulvey and his wife, Joan of Taunton; his sisters: Maureen Henault of Taunton, Helen Goldbach and her husband, Steve of Palm Coast, Fla., and Nancy Foster of Orlando, Fla.; an aunt, Catherine Miller of Taunton; a granddaughter-by-proxy, Jaelyn Paulo of Taunton, and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held from The Riendeau-Mulvey Funeral Home, 467 Bay Street, on Friday, September 30 at 9:00 A.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow in St. Jude the Apostle Church at 10:00 A.M. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting Hours will be held on Thursday, from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. Expressions of sympathy in his memory may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Southeastern Mass. VNA, 502 Bedford St., Fall River, Ma., 02720, or to the Taunton Boys and Girls Club, 31 Court St., Taunton, Ma., 02780.