Maureen Conway O'Rourke Surrounded by family and friends, laughter and many tears, Maureen Conway O'Rourke set upon her journey to heaven on May 29th, 2012. By now she has met up with her Dad and they are laughing (and arguing a bit), and we hope praying for the rest of us, who will miss her dearly and cannot imagine life without her. Maureen was a remarkable woman who embodied generosity and had the spirit and heart of your best friend. She created community everywhere she went. She was without question the life of the party. If you didn't have a drink in your hand five minutes after entering her home, you went to the wrong house. Maureen was 57 when she died. She was fearless and lived her life to the fullest every single moment. She embraced every experience, good and bad, with open arms and everything seemed to turn out just right for her. After building a successful career in real estate Maureen followed her passion, put all of her chips on the table and took over Towles restaurant in the heart of downtown Burlingame with her partner and best friend Meg Patt. Towles opened on a Monday and by Wednesday the place was full and rocking - Maureen had created yet another community. Her last career was with Hornblower Cruises where her only job was to ensure that her guests had a good time- her office was the San Francisco Bay. But Maureen's greatest accomplishment was her family. With her former husband Kevin she raised three lovely daughters, Kathleen, Mary and Jeannie. Thoughts of them gave her strength in good times and bad, from the day they were born, to the last moment of her life, when they were right next to her, giving her permission to find peace. Her girls will cherish her memory and live their lives as a tribute to her. On the day that Maureen was diagnosed with Leukemia, a team of family and friends arrived within hours and never left her side for two plus years. "Team Maureen" cared for her through thick and thin - from chemo, to bone marrow transplant. Her Mom Peggy Conway; her girls; her best friend Meg; brother and guardian angel Joey; sister Kathleen and brother Daniel; Cousin Meg; Cousins Cathy and Fred; the Costellos; Jane and Joan; Aunt Nancy; her Cullen, Kelly, Hutton & Bennett cousins; and numerous other friends brightened Maureen's days. Maureen never passed up a chance to take a trip, go out to lunch, give a hug, shed a tear or speak her mind. She didn't save for retirement (good move, Maur). She never tried to keep up with the Joneses and definitely danced to her own drummer. She had courage to change and follow her spirit and it was an inspiration. She was kind to all she met, and helped those in need in small and significant ways. Maureen will always be at the River, Camp Mather, Burbank Ave, and wherever her loved ones are enjoying each other's company and having good times. We love you Mo. We are heartbroken but know we will meet again - until then... Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Vigil at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 1st at Sneider & Sullivan & O'Connell's Funeral Home, 977 So. El Camino Real in San Mateo. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 2nd at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 1 Notre Dame Avenue in San Mateo. Donations may be made to Jill's Legacy at Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation at www.lungcancerfoundation.org
Published in San Francisco Chronicle from May 31 to June 1, 2012
