Matthew James Mullen

Matthew James Mullen came into this world on November 25, 2003 and left us all too soon on August 8, 2024 while hiking with friends in Yosemite National Park. Matthew was the third leg of the Mullen family stool that included oldest Annemarie and middle-child Rose. Matthew was opinionated, sensitive, hardworking, full of life, and beloved by many. He attended Presentation Catholic school and was a 2022 graduate of Jesuit High School. He excelled in athletics, most visible in his love for soccer, baseball and basketball. More recently, he developed a passion for climbing, spending countless hours at Pipeworks, a local climber’s gym. Matt’s adventurous spirit and ready laugh endeared him with his close-knit group of friends.

Matt worked at Skip’s Kitchen in Carmichael and was a 2-year veteran of the Camp Mather kitchen staff serving families from San Francisco. He cherished his time at Camp Mather working alongside his two older sisters, his cousin Brendan, and his Uncle Toby Wiley who was Camp Director and an impactful mentor for Matt’s Mather career.

Matt is survived by a huge extended family that loved him fiercely: the Turgeons (Annette - Sacramento), Ayres (Madeline - Ft. Jones), DeAndreis-McManus (Mary - McKinleyville); and the San Francisco (Joe), Foster City (John) and Lodi (Paul) DeAndreis families and Uncle Pete DeAndreis (Eureka). His Mullen side includes Aunts Jan (San Mateo), Liz (San Francisco), and (Kate) Wiley family; and the Daly City (Brian), Boston (John) and Kansas City (Chris) Mullen families. Matt was blessed to have his 98-year-old grandfather Joe De Andreis all his life, and his 90-year-old Great Aunt Sr. Sally Brady, O.P. showering him with her prayers. Welcoming Matt to heaven are his grandmothers he never met but surrounded him with love, Mary Leah (Carroll) DeAndreis and Ann (Brady) Mullen; grandfather Francis Mullen (Pa Frank) whose family reunions cemented the Mullen cousins; Great Aunt Joan (Brady) Carella, and Uncle Mike Turgeon.

A special thanks to San Francisco Parks and Recreation staff, the National Park Service, Supervisory Park Ranger Justin Fey and team, and the emergency responders who expertly and compassionately attended to Matt and his friends. Tax dollars well spent.

A celebration of life and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am on Friday, August 23, 2024 at St. Ignatius Church, 3235 Arden Way, Sacramento, with reception immediately following. For those who would like to offer a remembrance, a donation to the Kino Border Initiative, or the Friends of Camp Mather would be appreciated.

Those left broken-hearted include family, classmates, friends, co-workers, and his most special person Sofia Antido. Left to imagine their life without him are his mother Carroll, father Jim, sisters Annemarie and Rose, and his dog Bailey Bear. His passing is nothing short of a tragedy and he will be missed every day. Keep climbing Matt.