O'CONNOR, Maureen

O'CONNOR Maureen A. O'Connor - June 12, 2015 in St. Petersburg, Florida, after a brief illness, surrounded by her loving family: husband of 53 years, Dermot, daughter Ailish (Tim), sons Stephen (Yingying), Peter (Lori), David (AnnMarie) and Johnny (Patty). She was born in Dublin, Ireland on October 6, 1939, a daughter of Frank and Kay Conroy, and is survived by her four siblings Oona, Brian, Frank and Carmel. Immediately after their wedding, Dermot and Maureen emigrated to Florida, where they spent most of their lives, apart from a four year stay in Chicago. Maureen was the most selfless, caring woman, always seeking to help others, and always cheerful with a wonderful sense of humour Maureen earned her B.A. degree in Anthropology from Eckerd College in 1981. She was active in political and community affairs and was the former Vice-Mayor of Redington Beach. She was a past board member and Trustee of Shorecrest Preparatory School, and served on the board of the St. Petersburg Historical Museum. For thirty years, she and Dermot owned and operated a cattle ranch in Floral City, where their children largely avoided injury from snakes, alligators and wild pigs. She was an avid golfer and loved to travel, especially back to her home country of Ireland. Maureen loved attending, and especially hosting parties. She will be greatly missed by her friends in Florida, Ireland and Newfoundland. She loved and was loved by her five children and twelve grandchildren, Nora, Clare, Helen, Vera, Owen, Dermot, Evie, Siobhán, Conrad, Josie, Dylan and Declan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Maureen's memory to the The Dali Museum, www.thedali.org.