Mildred R Tulala

Mildred R Tulala, 103, of Woodbridge, passed away peacefully at St. Joseph’s Senior Home on Monday, January 26, 2026.

Mildred was born Mildred Sabat to Tekla Janusz and Teofil Sabat, daughter number six out of eight daughters. She was a lifelong resident of Perth Amboy and a professional secretary/stenographer who took great pride in her shorthand skills. Even in her later years while at St. Joseph’s nursing home, she would write the Lord’s Prayer in shorthand and give it to visitors—a quiet gift of faith, memory, and grace.

She shared fifty years of marriage with Frank J. Tulala. Frank predeceased her in 2004, leaving behind a lifetime of memories.

Mildred especially cherished summer afternoons sitting beneath the huge grapevine in her backyard, chatting with her sister(s) or with her dear friend Marion while surrounded by her many stray cats. Marion was very close to Mildred as both a loyal friend and caregiver. Her kind heart and generous nature will always be remembered. 

While Mildred did not have children of her own, she devoted herself to enriching the young lives of her thirteen nieces and nephews. She enjoyed all her nieces and nephews especially Patricia, Barbara, and Glenn whom held a special place in her heart. They lived upstairs with their mother, Tekla, close enough that love and life flowed between the floors. Gingee, William, Pat, Ann, Joseph and Joan were also deeply cherished. 

On holidays, she always found special, thoughtful gifts for her nieces and nephews—like an Audubon bird call, or a real live ant farm with clear plastic sides, so you could watch the ants work.

Memorial Day and Fourth of July picnics at Echo Lake Park brought her great joy and meaning. She and Frank would arrive at the crack of dawn to reserve a table deep in the woods. All eight sisters, their children and husbands—home from World War II—gathered to share food, laughter, card games, fireworks, and a few precious hours away from work on a holiday meant for remembering and celebrating.

Other summer Sundays were spent at family get-togethers in Father Teofil’s backyard, filled with food, laughter, friendship, and love. She also enjoyed watching and feeding the numerous birds that visited her backyard. Mildred was an avid town newspaper reader and shared interesting household tips with her sisters.

In her advanced years Mildred was the centenarian superstar of her nursing home—mentally sharp as a tack to the very end. So much so that the facility’s management often used her as a reference and model for visiting students, performers, clergy and future resident’s families. Mildred’s cheery, grateful and positive spirit will be deeply missed by all whom she met and loved her.

The Family expresses their sincere and grateful appreciation for the unending attention, loving care and serenity shown to our Aunt, during her three-year residency, under the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saint Joseph’s Senior Home, 1-3 St. Joseph’s Terrace, Woodbridge, NJ 07095.

Visitation hours will be held on Monday, February 2, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Ana Maria Zevallos / Skrocki Home for Funerals, located at 467 State Street, Perth Amboy, New Jersey 08861.

A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:30 a.m. at Saint John Paul II Parish, celebrated at Saint Stephen’s Church.

Interment will take place at Holy Trinity Cemetery.

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