Maureen joined the club in 1968, served two years on the committee from 1977 to 1979, became a life member in 1995 and died on 1 February 2022.
She had just turned 96 years of age when she died which must make her the oldest member ever to be still an active member at the time of her death.
Maureen Organised 2 holidays in Bruges staying at The English Convent in 2002 & 2003. She was one of the organisers of the Annual Club Reunions and arranged visits to St Paul's Church Brentford for their Christmas lunch and to the German YMCA Christmas fair.
From my own memories I remember her as a very frequent walker when I became an active member in 1988 and on some occasions entertained us to coffee at her home at the end of rambles in her area. She became a less frequent walker in the 1990s when, following her retirement as a teacher at Mandeville School, much of her time was spent in Poland teaching English but always maintained contact with several club members and attended rambles whenever she was in the UK. She was often the one who let us know if a Club Member was in hospital or Care and was noted for being more concerned about others than she was about herself, saying "Plenty worse than me".
In my own case Maureen's Christmas card was always one of the earliest to arrive and in all the years I knew her she never failed to send me a birthday card. Towards the end of her life when bad health began to take its toll on her she often appeared at the lunch stop or tea stop on rambles and these appearances were much appreciated by leaders and other members. Any club members with whom I have contact remember Maureen with affection but as a very private person so there is little more to say except that we enjoyed her company when alive and pray for her eternal repose now that she has departed this world.
In my own case Maureen's Christmas card was always one of the earliest to arrive and in all the years I knew her she never failed to send me a birthday card. Towards the end of her life when bad health began to take its toll on her she often appeared at the lunch stop or tea stop on rambles and these appearances were much appreciated by leaders and other members. Any club members with whom I have contact remember Maureen with affection but as a very private person so there is little more to say except that we enjoyed her company when alive and pray for her eternal repose now that she has departed this world.
Maureen's funeral Mass took place on Monday 7 March 2022. More than 30 club members were a significant proportion of the congregation and some more, including myself, joined in via the online streaming. The celebrant and two Eulogists spoke eloquently and lovingly of Maureen's well known qualities, her compassion for other people and her dedication to many charities. Her participation in the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers' Club was mentioned and the Offertory Hymn was the beautiful hymn based on the so called "Peace Prayer of St Francis". I reproduce below tthe front cover of the Mass booklet showing a photograph of Maureen as we knew her in recent years, the back cover with a photograph of her with her brother, an assumptionist Priest in America, and a page of the booklet listing some of Maureen's favourite charities to which we are invited to make donations in her memory. Finally I attach a scan of the front and back of Maureem's memorial - kindly provided by Gerry who is valiantly looking after her affairs.
TONY FINNEGAN
In August the headstone was erected on Maureen's Grave and was blessed by her Parish Priest
The photograph above was taken bby Gerry Devine's wife on the day Maureen's grave was blessed and the one below includes Mrs Devine herself,
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