Maureen McDonald Obituary

To Family and Friends of Maureen,

My prayers are with all of you who love Maureen. It is so difficult to be the ones left behind even as we know she is truely with God in joy.



Maureen and I had such a wonderful visit at the Webster U homecoming brunch, October 12th. At the Mass preceeding, I, as Minister of the Cup, had the privilege of giving her Christ.



At the brunch, we spoke of many friends, her classmates, Sisters who had been at Webster. We mourned but celebrated Sister Lucy Ruth whose birthday was the 12th and who had died in March. We laughed about memories, shared adventures and planned how to gather the 40th reunion class in five years!



Over the many years, we have kept in touch. I had such pride about her work in Chicago. I always knew there was a welcome in that city should I travel north. I will very much miss all of this and Maureen's goodness, her joy in life, and her great compassion for each human being she met.



May you know peace.

McDONALD, Maureen. Farewell my travelling friend. How glad I am we had those wonderful times in Zimbabwe, Alaska and last year in Australia. To think it was just one year ago and you were in Australia, so full of life and wisdom and good cheer, my life was expanded because of your enthusiasm and encouragement and ready laughter, I'll treasure that gift forever.

I met Maureen many years ago (1984)when I lived in Chicago for 1,5 years and worked at the same hotel she used to work. At Christmas she invited me and a German working colleague from the hotel to spend Christmas in her house with her family because our families were far away. It was the greatest Christmas party I had in my lifetime. I'll sure miss you here from Brazil, Maureen.

Dear Mrs McDonald and family:

Maureen was a college housemate and over the years we would see each other. Maureen had a strong commitment to helping people and was always there for those who needed her help. In the house I was the other Chicago gal and we often exchanged quips because she was from the south side and I was from the north side. We were planning a reunion in early Nov at another friend's home. It was to be just 5 of us from the college house and now it will be four. Maureen you are missed.

Maggie Burns-Johson

Maureen McDonald was an awessome neighbor. I will never forget the stories she used to tell me about which houses were built first on the block of 111th and Campbell and then told me about my house which was just a prairie before it was built. I will never forget the time when she saw me at the bus stop at the corner while it was pouring rain waiting for a bus to go to the train station. She stopped and asked if i wanted a ride and then she picked up another lady and we all went to the 99th street train station. She used to buy a stupid Mother McAuley calendar off me every year while i was in high school. She also used to give me five bucks for shoveling the snow for her when i was a kid. The last time I was to see Maureen was last summer with my sister and brother. It was on July 3rd and we were downtown for the Taste of Chicago and decided not stay for the fireworks and left before it got all crowded. Well we got an eight O'clock train and while we were getting up from our seats to wait by the door to get to 111th street there was Maureen getting up from her seat too and we said hi to her and asked us how we were doing and then asked my sister Amy how she was doing and asked her about how she was liking San Diego. Then we got off at 111th street and said goodbye. Who knew that would be our last time to see her.

To the Family of Maureen

I have known Maureen for many years. We were coffe shop and train buddies for a long time. She was so helpful and interested when I sent my daughter to Austrailia for school. Knowing that I was a little worried she contacted one of her worldwide friends and gave me and my daughter the comfort of having someone to contact for an emergency or just a lonely situation. My more recent sporadic meetings with her at County Fair were always excited and full of catch up chatter. I was deeply schocked and saddened at the news of her death. My memories will always be of her smiling, may yours always be the same.

Karen and Molly Meehan

To All of Maureen's family,

How truly blessed I have been to have Maureen as my friend. Her sense of humor, her adventuresome spirit, her loving heart and a generosity that knew no limits. Friends since our college days, I am so very gratefull for her many visits over the last 6 years. The world is a more beautiful place because she loved so well here, and is suffering loss because she left us far too soon. I love you, Maureen. I thank you for being my friend and for caring for me, my husband and my children in the way that was so unique to you . We will meet again! Love, Joanie

We will remember her...and smile

Remembering all the joy she brought to our lives

Elaine, Earl, Crystal and Holly Gano

Australia

To Maureen's Family
Our deepest sympathy at this sad time, may God give you strength to get through the days ahead. I was with Maureen at exactly this time last year when we all visited Western Australia to be with Jan and Valma, and I will always cherish that happy time we shared. She was a beautiful caring person, and I know you will miss her terribly. Her calendar gift with all our fun pictures of that trip through the wineries is hanging on my wall right now, and I will always want to keep it and remember a lovely person who had become such a wonderful and supportive friend. You are all in our thoughts.

All our love, Kathie and Andrew Page-Robertson and Family

Dear Mrs. McDonald and Family,



Our deepest sympathies at the loss of Maureen. Our prayers are with you at this time. May the Lord bring comfort and peace to you all.

My sincere condolences to Mrs. McDonald and all of Maureen's family and friends. I am privileged to have known Maureen both as a St. Cajetan parishioner and also professionally. She was a fierce advocate for the elderly when she came to the Assessor's office to complete exemption information on their behalf. May she continue to be the GUARDIAN ANGEL for those who need her.

My wife, Joan Powell, and I wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Maureen McDonald for this tragic loss.



We only knew Maureen this past week in planning, irony of ironies, the funeral of a ward of the Public Guardian which took place just the day after Maureen's tragic death, and for which she had completed all of the plans with professional competence and loving kindness as well.



I was so impressed with her diligence and her dedication that I asked to come see her in person to thank her for her many kindnesses, and so I had the privilege of meeting her one time, on that fateful Friday afternoon, literally just half an hour before the fire.



Meeting her in person, she was all that I had expected and more --- witty, charming, redolent with love and joy.



I am so glad that I did not put off meeeting her, and so sad that it will not happen again on this earth. But I do not think that I will ever forget Maureen McDonald and I think there are legions of individuals who feel the same.



Joan and I know that the wonderful memories of this marvelous and mangnificent individual will sustain her family and friends in the days and years ahead.

I met Maureen years ago and only once when she took care of an elderly neighbor who became a ward of the state. She visited the neighbor regularly in a nursing home, contacted me when she died and arranged and attended her funeral, one of four people present. What she did, and the respect she showed for society's forgotten people, has stayed with me all these years. I am very sorry for your loss.

Maureen,

I feel priveliged to have spent some time with you in the last 12 months both in Australia and in Chicago. I will never forget last Christmas when you made a snow angel, to me this was the mad, humourous, go getter Maureen that I knew. In the last few days I have looked at that photo and I smile. I am proud to have known you Maureen, you have taught my family and I so much. I share your love of travelling and I keep thinking how ahead of your time you were to travel the way you did. I think of you as a compassionate and a giving person who was always helping someone or some cause. I will miss you and vow to return to Chicago one day (the city you love) to see your family who I also call my friends. I too hope they will come to Australia where I can provide that 5 star hospitality that you did for me.I will never forget you, you memory will always live on with the Schlecht's.

Melanie Schlecht

We will never forget Maureen - our dear friend both in Australia and Canada. Full of life and fun, always sharing her heart with kindness and friendship with everyone she met. Love, Valma and Murray Lanceley

Our sincere condolences to Mrs. McDonald and family. We will never forget Maureen - our dear friend both in Australia and Canada. Full of life and fun, always sharing her heart with kindness and friendship with everyone she met. Love, Valma and Murray Lanceley

I did not know Maureen. I am writing as a human being who wanted to say I was sorry for your loss and pray for you to have some peace.

Very shocked and saddened by her loss. I am very glad I had kept up with her in the 10 years since I left OPG. The help she provided for the wards was invaluable. I want to thank her for continuing to provide information to me to help me serve my patients at Weiss Hospital. The last conversation we had in August was sweet and supportive. She can only be in a good place now.

Dear Mrs. McDonald, Matt, Tom and Winnie,

Maureen has been a special friend since our college days in St. Louis.

What a character she was! We always laughed when we were together. What a caring, loving person she was to anyone in need. We all all better for having shared our lives with your spirited Irish daughter and sister. She will be missed terribly. Love to all of you.

To the McDonald Family:



I only had the pleasure of meeting Maureen once, last Spring at a mutual friend's baby shower. We sat together at the luncheon, and talked for a couple of hours. She was so warm and friendly -- a wonderful person to talk to. In the course of our short acquaintance Maureen spoke of her close knit family, her travels, as well as her love for her work at the Guardian's office. I wish I had known her better. And I am so sorry for your loss.

Dear Family and Friends of Maureen:



please accept my heart filled sympathy at the loss of such a special and vibrant women.



The Shakespeare Group will truly miss her. Maureen contributed so much to our group.



Nancy

To your family from mine...



I am Elaine Gano's baby sister and Marion Treleaven's daughter. My heart aches for you and yours at this time.



I had the opportunity to get to know Maureen briefly when she visited us this past Easter. She was kind, compassionate and very fun to be with. My young daughters just adored her and are quite saddened by her loss.



Earth has lost an angel but heaven has gained one...



Stay strong until you meet again...

Dear McDonald Family

Our brother in law is a ward of the State. Maureen was such a help to us in honoring the wishes of my husband, his only living brother, regarding his care. I spoke with her several times and her cheeriness, good heartedness and desire to do the right thing for all was evident. Your family and the Public Guardian's Office has suffered a great loss - In her memory we will send a donation to the Maple Morgan Park Food Pantry. How fitting a memorial for Maureen - helping those in need.

Charles & Maureen Leveck

To know Maureen was to love her, what a character she was!

She visited our family in Canada in April and as usual she kept us in stitches the whole time.

I can't believe she's gone - she was a wonderful generous friend. She had friends all over the world. It's a sad day.

My deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Maureen. My sister Nancy worked with Maureen at the public guardians office for 20 years, she has spoken of her often. This is a tragedy to lose a wonderfull woman.

Dear McDonald family,



I am a friend of Tom and Matt. My heart, thoughts and prayers are with you and your family today.



Maureen Collins