Miriam Jeanne Mullen

Miriam Jeanne Mullen (84), wife of Kenneth Mullen of St. Joseph, passed away at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018. She was preceded in death by her mother, Mamie Carpenter; father, Ray Carpenter; and sister, Marilyn Eaton, all of Havana. Miriam (lovingly known as Mim) was born in Bloomington on Feb. 9, 1934. Her family moved to Havana in 1937. She graduated from Havana Community High School in 1952. Miriam graduated with her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in 1956, where she also obtained a master’s degree and an advanced certificate in early childhood education. Miriam taught at Astoria, Homer and Rantoul high schools and elementary school in Rantoul City Schools. She also taught courses at Parkland College in Champaign in early childhood education. She is best remembered for her friendliness, infectious smile and boundless energy. She introduced the concept of “move to learn” into her kindergarten classes, whereby music and vocabulary were combined with movement. Miriam is survived by her husband of 64 years, Kenneth Mullen of St. Joseph, and sons, Scott Mullen of Vista, Calif., and Kip Mullen and his wife, Christina Braun, of Prescott, Ariz. Also surviving are her daughters, Jody Piro and her husband, Jerry Piro, of Summit, Wis.; Laurie Mullen and her husband, Mathew Stuve, of Muncie, Ind.; and Kerry Mullen and her husband, Ed Risch, of Lake Tahoe, Nev. Miriam is survived by five grandchildren, Patrick Mullen; Kyle Piro and his wife, Melissa Levine-Piro; Taylor Kennedy and her husband, Gavin Kennedy; Laura Piro; and Jordan Cantrell and her husband, Kalalau Cantrell. Miriam has two great-grandsons, Kip Mullen and Maddox Cantrell. There will be a private service for her family only at Lux Funeral Home, Rantoul. Should you like to make a donation in her remembrance, please send it to the American Red Cross.