Maureen was born in Jamaica, Queens to Edmund and Anne O’Connor, the eldest of three. As a child, she was a voracious reader, excelled at school, and was a gifted artist and singer. After graduating from the College of New Rochelle, Maureen worked in New York as a copywriter in the advertising industry for clients such as Pan Am Airlines, American Express and Ford Motor Company. While raising her daughter, Maureen continued her copywriting work as a freelancer, and later as the editor-in-chief for Connecticut Home Office, a weekly newspaper.
Maureen loved learning about other cultures, and traveled to 65 countries over her lifetime. Her adventures even took her to Afghanistan twice, where her great-grandfather served as a captain in the British Army. She would often regale her family with interesting stories of her travels abroad.
Throughout her life, gardening was Maureen’s passion. She was well known in the community for her weekly gardening column, Sound Gardening, which ran in the Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Times for many years. Her love and deep knowledge of gardening led her to being an active member in the Stamford Garden Club, the Greenwich Garden Education Center and the Garden Club of America. Friends frequently came to her with gardening questions which she would often answer on the spot. Maureen also had a keen interest in current events and was a savvy investor, always keeping an eye on the stock market.
A devout Catholic, Maureen volunteered with many ministries at St. Catherine of Siena Church, and modeled a life of faith. Maureen always had thoughtful insights, and everyone she met felt her kindness and compassion. She also had a great sense of humor, and shared many laughs with friends and family. Her unconditional love will never be forgotten.
She leaves behind her husband of 47 years, Bob, her daughter Beth (Brian Mulherin), her grandchildren, Connor and Sabrina, and her sister, Patricia Duncan (Wendell). She was preceded in death by her brother, Robert O’Connor.
Visitation will be held at Leo Gallagher Funeral Home, 2900 Summer Street, Stamford, CT on Tuesday, August 31 from 4:00 – 7:00 pm. A funeral mass will be held at St. Catherine of Siena Church, Riverside, CT on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers, donations in Maureen’s name may be made to either Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in the Bronx (via Catholic Charities/Archdiocese of New York (www.catholiccharitiesny.org)), or to Catholic Relief Services (www.crs.org).
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