Endowed with a kind heart and adventurous spirit, Oxford resident Cheri Mulligan devoted her time on earth to caring for those around her.
From her hospital patients to stray animals to forgotten children in need of love, she was always there to lend a hand, a hug or a home.
Sadly, Mulligan passed away suddenly Thursday, March 8 at age 44. She was the daughter of Oxford Village Councilman Tom Benner and his wife, Marilyn.
‘From the time she was a little girl, she was always interested in helping people,? Marilyn said.
A 1981 graduate of Oxford High School, Mulligan became a Registered Nurse in 1992 after completing a program at Hurley Medical Center in Flint.
‘She wanted to be a nurse ever since she was a little girl,? said Marilyn, noting she put herself through nursing school while raising two small children. ‘That’s how much she wanted to be a nurse.?
Over the years, she worked at several hospitals in Michigan and California. She was employed at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland at the time her passing.
Marilyn said her ‘adventuresome? daughter loved the ‘fast-paced? life of being a nurse, particularly the adrenaline rush of working in the Emergency Room.
That’s one of the things that led Mulligan to serve as a paid-on-call firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for the Oxford Fire Dept. from September 1994 until July 1998.
‘She was one of our very first female firefighters,? recalled Fire Chief Jack LeRoy. ‘She was a well-liked member of the department.?
Mulligan was respected her for strong work ethic, but it was her terrific sense of humor that endeared her to fellow firefighters.
Being accepted by the other firemen was important to Mulligan, according to her mother. Marilyn recalled that in order to become an EMT, she also had to undergo firefighter training which included passing a test in which she would climb up a ladder, wearing full fire gear, in a certain amount of time. Being a ‘pretty slender girl,? Mulligan failed the first time.
When it came time to do take it a second time, Mulligan told her mother ‘all the firemen were cheering her on, saying, ‘Go Cheri! Go Cheri!??
‘When she passed it, she told me, ‘I’m happy that I passed it, but I’m happier to know those firemen want me to serve with them,?? Marilyn said. ‘That meant so much to her because she was afraid the men might not want a woman on (the department). That made her feel so good.?
Mulligan proved herself as a firefighter when she helped rescue a mentally ill man from the basement of a burning house on W. Drahner Road in the late 1990s.
Being a mother, children always held a special place in Mulligan’s heart. That’s why she cared deeply for children ‘who had bad home lives,? usually friends of her kids.
‘She took in several young people,? Marilyn said. ‘She brought them into her home, even one in California. They all called her mom.?
‘One girl was not allowed to live in her home, so Cheri took her in for a while until her mother decided to take her back.?
Mulligan’s compassion wasn’t just limited to people.
‘She loved animals. She had several pets,? Marilyn said. ‘She took in quite a few different pets that didn’t have homes.?
Mulligan enjoyed doing volunteer work with the Michigan Humane Society.
She will be missed by her dog Snickers, a loyal companion who traveled with her.
Despite her love of adventure, Marilyn said her daughter enjoyed the domestic side of life, particularly cooking, sewing and gardening.
Although she loved to travel, Mulligan always found herself returning to Oxford to be near her ‘close-knit? family. ‘She was a very loving, caring daughter and we had a close relationship,? Tom said.
Mulligan leaves behind her son Jamie, 22, and her daughter Jenna, 19. She’s also survived by brother Alan Benner; aunts and uncles Kathy Hall, Carolyn (John) Rowles, Helen Hunt, Bob (Helen) Benner, Jean (Gil) Morz, and Pat (Don) Fick. Mulligan will be missed by best friend Kita Albright.
She’s preceded in death by her grandparents Walter and Christine Hall and Carl and Veronica Benner.
A funeral was held March 13 at Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors Bossardet Chapel. Interment was at Ridgelawn Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Michigan Humane Society or Oxford Firefighters Association.