1940 – 2022
Maureen Mary O’Connor, 82, of Manchester, NH passed peacefully on September 20th in the comfort of her home that she adored. “The ache for home lives in all of us” (Maya Angelou) and Maureen departs this world in the one place she was most comfortable – her home.
Born January 4th, 1940, in Coventry CT, she is predeceased by her parents, Edward & Gertrude Markley, her sisters Joan Gagnon and Beverly Moore, her brother Butch Markley and the love of her life, her late husband of 50 years, Martin David O’Connor.
Maureen graduated from Killingly High School in 1958 and attended Willimantic State Teacher’s College in CT. She taught 5th grade for two years at Woodstock Elementary School before marrying Martin in 1964 and moving to Wakefield, MA where she continued her teaching career at Danvers Elementary for 5-6th grade. When a career opportunity in Manchester, NH arose for Martin, they moved and bought their first and only house where they would happily live for the next fifty plus years. It is at this home where Maureen and Martin would raise a family with their daughter Susan and celebrate life’s many wonderful milestones.
A loving mother and grandmother, Maureen enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. As a stay-at-home mom, she devoted her time to her family relishing in the day-to-day details of life and taking pride in all that she did. She welcomed all into her home and treated everyone as a special guest whether they were family or someone she just met. Maureen loved baking, especially homemade pies and cookies for her family. She also enjoyed tending to her vegetable garden, planting flowers, and as she said it ‘puttering around her yard’.
Maureen was what you would call a true sports enthusiast and could carry on a conversation with just about anyone regarding anything happening in the sporting world. She rarely ever missed watching a Red Sox, Patriots or Celtics game. She was the number one fan at all her daughter’s or grandchildren’s sporting events.
Maureen is survived by her daughter, Susan and her son-in-law Doug O’Brien of Walpole, MA, her beloved three grandchildren, Jenny, Dan and Kevin O’Brien, and her brother Sam Markley of Danielson, CT.
Maureen’s family will be forever grateful for the incredible care, love and support of her Hospice team and her caregivers, and for At Home By Hunt which allowed her to remain in her home. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the VNA of Manchester & Southern NH (manchestervna.org).
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a memorial gathering at the Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam, CT 06260 on Saturday, October 22, 2022, from 10:00AM to 12:00PM with a memorial service at 11:00AM. For memorial guestbook please visit www.GilmanAndValade.com.
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