Arra Margaret Mulledy-Johnson

Arra Margaret Mulledy-Johnson, Chrismated with the Saint name Melangell, fell asleep in the Lord on Friday, October 14th, 2022. She had only attended a handful of services with her granddaughter, but it was enough to reignite her passion for Christ and her desire to return to a church community. She was Chrismated into the Holy Orthodox Church by Father Anthony Karbo on Wednesday, October 12th, 2022 and her last meal was the Eucharist. She reposed from natural causes in the home she shared with her granddaughter and granddaughter's husband, Jessica and Cody Hatfield (Seraphima and Hallvard).

Arra was born on January 28, 1947 in New York City, New York to Robert and Geraldine Mulledy. Lt. Col. Robert Mulledy began his military career in the Army Air Corps during World War II and retired after 29 years of proud service to his country, so Arra and her siblings moved frequently as children. Arra had precious memories of Germany, where she learned to ski. Her family returned home aboard the S.S. United States, and it was at Lackland AFB that she met her dear friend Helen Lee. Arra graduated from Air Academy High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1965. She sang in the choir at UCCS in exchange for auditing courses in accounting, which she used to launch her career. In 1977, she was credited as a research assistant in the publication of the textbook "Nursing Care Evaluation." She was the treasurer of Executive Women International, an administrative assistant for The Retired Enlisted Association in Colorado Springs, and worked for many companies throughout her life. In 1995, she and her mother, Geraldine, took in her granddaughter and raised her. Arra was the Chess Club coach for St. Stephen's Episcopal Day School while Jessica attended school there. She was involved in every project and endeavor her granddaughter pursued, and in 2014, she became the sole caregiver for her mother who had dementia. She had a passion for working with children and the elderly, and she loved bringing beauty into people's lives. Her creativity was expressed through photography, porcelain doll-making, cards, poetry, cooking and baking, sewing, gardening, painting, and numerous other artistic and crafty outlets. The world's beauty was never lost on her.

Arra is survived by her siblings, Bruce Mulledy, Susan Mulledy-DeFrank, and Scott Mulledy; and her grandchildren, Jessica Hatfield and Sean Morris. She has joined her mother, Geraldine Mulledy, who passed in 2018, and her father, Robert Mulledy, who passed in 1979. She was also predeceased by her aunt, namesake, and Godmother, Arra Bryant Bobenage, who called her "Penny." Services will begin with the Panikhida at Holy Theophany Orthodox Church at 7pm on Friday, October 21st, 2022. This service will run until the 8am Liturgy on Saturday, October 22nd, which will culminate in the 10am Funeral service. A subsequent potluck will allow the community of her church, family, and friends to gather and share stories together before proceeding to St. Mary's Orthodox Cemetery for burial. St. Mary's Orthodox Cemetery was consecrated along with the church on the same property by St. Tikhon in the 20th century. All services will be officiated by the Priest and Rector of Holy Theophany Orthodox Church, Father Anthony Karbo, who has our family's sincere gratitude in this time. 

Opening of the Grave | Gravediggers
MAJ Tracy Zinn, USA, SFC Jose Arreola, USA, SSG Charles Faircloth, USA, SSG Christopher Alcantera, USA, SGT Cody Hatfield, USA, Mr. Eric Mason and Mr. Jack Bowyer

Arra's final request in life was that any donations made in her name be dedicated to Holy Theophany Orthodox Church. "Never in my life have I met such kind and loving people as these," she said of the community at this church. She wanted to preserve the community and assist with their St. John Mission and the construction of the new church. For those wishing to donate elsewhere due to religious reasons, Arra loved the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (from whom we adopted all of our pets over the years).
Holy Theophany Orthodox Church, 2770 N. Chestnut Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, 610 Abbot Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80905
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906

We owe a debt of gratitude to the hospice care staff from Solaris Hospice, who made her last months memorable with their compassionate care; to Father Anthony Karbo, who said it was never too late for someone of sincere faith to enter into Christ's church; to Herman Bever, who has been an incredible friend to our family and provided Arra with her baptismal cross and let her experience the Liturgy in multiple languages; to Holy Theophany Orthodox Church, who arranged to assist us with funeral costs for the newly illumined Melangell; to Janet McMillan, who read the Psalter to her and was there for her final moments, and has helped Jessica with the task of organizing funeral arrangements; to our cousin Melissa Rutledge, who provided flowers for the funeral of her aunt; to the members of the United States Army, to Eric Mason, and to Jack Bowyer, who helped to dig my grandmother's grave; and to every friend and family member and part of our church community who has rallied around us in this time of joyful sorrow, where we bid a fond and temporary farewell to an incredible woman who meant the world to us. She was not alone.

High Flight
by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds-and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of-wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting winds along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
 

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