HADLEY, MA: Maureen Judith McGrath passed away peacefully in the early morning on Tuesday November 12th, 2024, under a cotton candy sunrise, at the age of 89. She spent her final weeks in the loving care of her family with her sweet cat Deja by her side. Even the neighborhood squirrels were gathered outside her window. Her cozy apartment in Hadley was bursting at the seams with love and memories every day, with the presence of her daughters, son-in-laws, grand and great grandchildren as well as several friends until she passed.

Maureen was born June 9th, 1935, in Northampton, Massachusetts to Edith Devine and Herbert Alden Clark. She often spoke of her idyllic childhood growing up on Strong Street in Amherst. There she developed a profound love of nature and animals as she roamed the fields, pastures and pond in her neighborhood with her best pal, Robert Fitzgerald. She loved eating out of her dad’s prolific garden and once she got her license, cruising the streets in her red convertible.

Maureen attended Amherst schools, graduating from Amherst High School in 1953 where she began her long list of eclectic accomplishments. She was most proud of being chosen as the cover artist for the Amherst Town Report, being the lead in the school play her senior year and lettering in varsity basketball. She was always a wonderful artist and writer, having been offered a position as a graphic illustrator at the Diamond Match Company, and taking several writing classes though the years. She developed a strong bond with her classmates and attended every class reunion. As an adult Maureen worked at the Worcester dining commons at UMass which is where she met the love of her life Owen Joseph McGrath from Trinity Bay, Newfoundland. They married November 25th, 1959, and soon after bought a house on Potwine Lane in Amherst.

There they raised their 5 daughters along with Grandma Edith who remained a member of the household until her death in 1973. Tragically, her beloved husband, Owen passed away in 1977 leaving Maureen completing the task of raising 5 teenagers. She was a stay-at-home mom until her daughters were all in school and then went to work in the Amherst community as an instructional aide at Amherst Junior high school, then as bank teller for several Amherst banks where she meticulously proved her cash drawer every day “to the penny”. She spent her last 10 years as an administrative assistant at St Brigid’s church in Amherst. Maureen made many dear friends along the way in her working years.

She also had a very close-knit friend group as a Jazzercise participant at the Hampshire Mall into her early 70’s. She was known as the “Queen mother” to the Jazzercise crew. Out of all her accomplishments, she was most proud of growing a big, loving, fun and at times quite boisterous family from her start as an only child. She was known as mom, Gram and Gram-Gram to her family and her grandchildren’s friends. She loved to tell people that she had 5 daughters, all who went on to become nurses. Her family grew to include her beloved 15 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. She showered every person in her family with “oodles of love” which was her signature on every greeting card, hugs, kisses and endless support. She showed up to every school and life event “with bells on” cheering on her family from the sidelines with passion.

She loved Neil Diamond and every wedding had to have a rousing group singalong to Sweet Caroline. As the daughter of a minor league baseball player, Maureen was also a huge baseball fan and a diehard Red Sox superfan. She spoke of listening to them on the Philco radio with her father, and later with her husband Owen at the backyard picnic table. She even took the girls on a trip to Winter Haven Florida in 1978 to watch Spring training. They were even able to get autographs from some of the greats. In the later decades she especially loved her Big Papi. She shared every Red Sox triumph and heartbreak with two of her best friends Alice and Rollie Campbell. She and Owen also enjoyed numerous and often rowdy games of pitch with them. Other highlights in Maureen’s life included family trips to Newfoundland several times over the years to visit Owen’s family.

She loved trips to Cape Cod, Maine and Florida. She treasured her 80th birthday cruise to Bermuda with her daughters as well a trip to Hawaii to visit her grandsons and to San Diego, California via Amtrak. She also had a memorable trip to Italy with a senior travel group. She often paraphrased Lou Gehrig saying “I am the luckiest woman alive”

 In addition to her husband Owen, she is predeceased by her parents, Herbert and Edith Clark, and a grandson, Jeffery Owen Millar as well as Owen’s parents, brothers and sisters. She leaves behind her daughters: Brenda Millar of Greenfield, Catherine (Harry) Wiater of Hadley, Sharon (Steven) Shumway of Greenfield, Mary (Jeffrey) Walas of Sunderland, and Lorrie (Greg Little) McGrath of Montague and the “apples of her eye”, her 15 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren, in addition to many friends and extended family.

As the Queen of our hearts her memory lives with us for eternity. Maureen’s family would like to express their gratitude to Cooley Dickinson Hospice for their invaluable expertise and compassion in helping us care for her in her final days.

 Calling hours will be Tuesday from 4-6 pm at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday at 10 AM at St. Brigid’s Church, with burial following in St. Brigid’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Cooley Dickinson VNA and Hospice.

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com