Maureen met the love of her life, Thomas, while in high school. They were married in California in 1956, where they had their first child, Mary. They moved back to the Midwest where they had five more children, living in Chicago, Wilmette and Palatine. After raising their children, Maureen and Tom spent three years in Fullerton, California and three years in Houston, Texas, where they welcomed all for extended visits in their beautiful homes which Maureen took great pleasure in designing and decorating. Maureen and Tom moved back to the Midwest in 1997, spending one year in their summer home in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, before settling into their final home in Mount Prospect.
Maureen loved to play tennis, travel, read, cook and visit with family and friends, including her “club” from grammar school. She was a yogi for over fifty years and the world’s best (and fastest) driver.
Maureen is survived by her loving children Mary (Walt) Sterrenberg, Patricia (the late Sean) Cusack, Sheila Joyce, Ellen Joyce, Thomas M. (Sandy) Joyce and Kevin Joyce; her grandchildren Erin (Kim), Johnny (Michelle), Caitilin, Colin, Sean (aka Mick) (Natalie), Bridget (John) and Nora, Emily, William (Jessica), Maureen, Leigha (David), Megan (Manuel), Matt, Tom, Kasey, Conor and Ellie; her great grandchildren, Jack, Francis, Jimmy, Conor, Shea, Finn, Liam, Kellan, Nolen, Maggie, Adalynn, Logan, Addison, Jordan, Charlotte, Lily and Dylan; her sister Regina (James) Murray, sister-in-law Midge (the late Patrick) Sheehan, brother-in-law Tim (Pat) and sister-in-law Carol (the late Anthony) Joyce; many nieces and nephews, and her wonderful caregiver and friend, Klavdiya Burlaka. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Thomas Joyce, parents Michael and Mary, granddaughter Erica, siblings Ellen (the late Dan) Carroll and Michael (the late Eva) Sheehan, parents in-law John and Nora Joyce, and siblings in-law John (Jean) Joyce, Mary (Donald) Garrity, Alice (Vincent) Pellettieri, Patrick (Kitty) Joyce and Frank (Kathy) Joyce.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, from 9:00–10:00 AM at St. James Catholic Church, 820 N. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60004. The funeral mass will start at 10:00 AM at Saint James immediately after visitation. Interment private.
