Maureen Bradshaw

Maureen Myrtle Bradshaw (Mellon) affectionately known as "Moocher," departed this life to be with Jesus on June 19, 2024, in Sacramento, California. Born on December 29, 1941, in Norway, Michigan, Maureen was 82 years old at the time of her passing. She lived a life marked by faith, love and commitment.

Raised on a family-run dairy farm in the small town of Vulcan, Michigan, Maureen learned the lifelong values of hard work and determination. She helped her family with all things necessary on a dairy farm from planting or picking crops to baling hay. She was proud to say that she took over her brother’s work when he left for the military - and even prouder that two boys were hired to replace her when she left for nursing school. During high school, when she wasn’t working on the farm or in the local pasty shop as a waitress, she was often engaged in school clubs and activities. She was a cheerleader, a yearbook typist and a member of the Chorus, Girl’s Glee Club and Student Council. She was also a very conscientious student spending many hours on her studies. Her academic achievements led her to being named valedictorian of Vulcan High School's graduating class of 1959.

Maureen left country life and went to the “big” city of Marquette, Michigan, for three years to become a registered nurse. At St. Luke’s School of Nursing, in addition to being a top student, she was also involved in many administrative committees, student organizations, Yearbook Staff and Chorus. She completed her nursing studies in 1962.

After becoming an RN, she worked at the VA hospital in Iron Mountain a short while. She transferred to another VA hospital in California - which started her life on the West Coast. She and four other nursing graduates piled into her Pontiac and headed west. They spent the night in Sacramento along the way to the Bay Area. After arriving in the ugly and smelly town that was to be their new home, they turned down their new jobs and returned to Sacramento. The five quickly found work there where they later learned that the nun who hired them had been praying for five new nurses.

In November 1963, she met and fell in love with Captain Robert “Jerry” Bradshaw, whom she later married on May 1, 1965, at McClellan AFB. Ten months later, Mark Robert was born. Three months later, the new family left Sacramento for Yorkshire, England, where Jerry had been stationed. Three years she lived and developed there raising Mark, learning how to drive a stick shift and on the “wrong” side of the road, using her nursing skills to help Jerry’s unit and dealing with other officers’ wives.

They were fortunate to be able to return to Sacramento after the three-year tour where Maureen returned to nursing, working in the recovery room of Mercy San Juan hospital. Six years later in 1975, Jennifer Lynn arrived much to the joy of the couple who had been trying for years to grow their family.

During these years Maureen was active at St. Joseph’s parish where she made sure her children were raised in the church. She began interpreting mass in sign language for the deaf at Presentation which was closer to the new family’s home.

In 1986, she earned an associate degree in American Sign Language from American River Junior College. She then went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1988 and a master’s degree in counseling in 1991 from California State University, Sacramento. Maureen also maintained her nursing license until 2011, often sharing her medical insight and advice with family and friends.

In her later years, Maureen's faith was the cornerstone of her life. She was a devout member of Presentation church where she attended daily Mass. She was a catechism teacher and a guide for newcomers to the faith through the RCIA program. She was a lector and a Eucharistic Minister for the vigil Mass and she coordinated schedules for both activities. She was a dedicated prayer warrior who also coordinated multiple prayer lines and prayer groups. In her holy hours of adoration, she received prophetic words daily from our Lord and shared them regularly with her spiritual advisors, family, friends and other parishioners. Her commitment extended to participating in healing masses, deliverances and exorcisms.

Maureen spent many summers returning to “The Farm”, where she grew up. There she enjoyed spending time with family and friends and (again) coordinating (she was gifted in this area! ; - )) reunions for her family, high school and nursing classmates. Whether in Michigan or Sacramento, she liked taking walks around the neighborhood, admiring the beauty of trees and flowers and often feeding neighborhood cats. Maureen was especially fond of cats, having several of her own and she spent time watching birds, squirrels and other wildlife visitors to her backyard. She was an avid reader of the bible and other religious texts and she loved doing sudoku and word searches. She also enjoyed watching her favorite TV shows - Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. During the holidays, she loved baking hundreds of cookies to share with friends and neighbors and munch on herself!

She is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Jerry; son, Mark; daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Robert; sister-in-law, Barbara; kitties-Molly, Mama, Honey, Scooter and Jojo and injured squirrel-Stanley. Maureen was preceded in death by her parents, Edmond and Ruth; brother, Michael; and sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and Donald. She leaves behind a legacy of hard work, service, faith and devotion. She will be missed for many years to come.

The rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet will be prayed in her honor at the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church on Wednesday, June 10, 2024, at 10:00 AM. A traditional funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM followed by a reception at 12:00 PM at the same location.

In lieu of flowers and/or gifts please consider supporting a charitable organization of your choice. Thank you.

We, her children, also thank you for spending time with Maureen here in these pages of text and pictures. Your love and devotion to her means so much to us! Mark and Jennifer