Alice Whelan Kline Mullen passed away on December 16, 2015, comforted by her son James and homecare friends. Alice was born in Greenwich, Connecticut in 1922 to Jane Whelan Kline and George Owen Kline. Alice lost her mother very young and was raised, along with her two sisters Dorothy and Helen, by her father and stepmother Rhetta Buerbusse Kline in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Alice attended local schools and graduated from Searles High School in 1940. Shortly after, Alice met John E. Mullen Jr., and the couple married June 23, 1945. They made their home in Great Barrington, raising two boys.
Alice began her career in the advertising departments of the Berkshire Courier and the Berkshire Eagle, and later collaborated with John and Eunice Raifstanger at the genesis of the Shopper’s Guide. Alice went on to manage the women’s ski and tennis apparel department at Kenver Ltd. She also served as an officer of the Fairview Hospital Women’s Auxiliary. She was an accomplished golfer, winning many women’s tournaments at Wyantenuck Country Club. She also took up skiing to join her children on the slopes.
In 1980, Alice and John fulfilled a long-held dream and moved to Bonita Springs, Florida, where Alice built on her love for and expertise in retail, working at the Mark Fore & Strike. John’s health called the couple back home to the Berkshires in 1998, where they could be closer to their children. Alice lost her husband the following year and continued to live independently in Sheffield for the remainder of her life.
Alice outlived her two sisters and is survived by her son James of New Marlborough, Mass., and her two granddaughters Kelsey, of Newport, R.I., and Mackenzie of Brooklyn, N.Y. She also leaves behind her beloved nieces and their families: Lynn and Peter Kinne of Sheffield and their daughter Sarah of New York City, and Gina and John Miller of Lake George, N.Y., and their son Max of Miami, Fla.; as well as her nephew Victor Albertazzi of Great Barrington. In the last year of Alice’s life, she was comforted by a superlative homecare staff who kept her healthy, happy, and safe. Alice also leaves son John Mullen III and his family. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy in Alice’s memory may be made to Hospice Care in the Berkshires in care of the BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOME, 33 South St., Great Barrington MA 01230. Condolences may be made through birchesroyfuneralservices.com.
