Nora Teresa Gonzalez Maher

Maher, Nora Teresa Gonzalez
Of Costa Mesa, CA, was killed in an automobile accident on July 15, 2003. There is no doubt in the mind of the family, that after being summoned by God, Nora stayed to protect the other five family members traveling in the car, who walked away relatively untouched. Born in Diriamba, Nicaragua on August 28, 1930, she moved to Los Angeles in the 1950's. While residing in a catholic boarding house, she met her future husband, Peter Donald Maher III. They were married on April 14, 1956 in Managua. As newly-weds they lived in Annapolis, Maryland, before finally settling down in what would become their "true home" - Costa Mesa. Following a brief stint in England, they returned to Costa Mesa with the family, which had now grown to seven members. To Nora, family was everything, and everyone she met became a member of that family. Nora was always active in the community; her most noteworthy accomplishment was co-founding "Save Our Youth" (SOY). In addition to doting on her five children and ten grandchildren, she worked as a pre-school teacher, instructional aide at Pomona School, a migrant home-school aide, and an incoming student evaluator for the Newport-Mesa School District. She was an insatiable gardener and was famous for her "secret" garden. She was well known in her Franciscan parish, Saints Simon & Jude, in Huntington Beach. She was always thristing for knowledge. At the age of 71, she entered the age of technology - attending computer school up to 14 hours a week. She and her husband traveled throughout the U.S. and Europe, and one of her fondest memories was a visit to the Holy Land. She is survived by her husband, Don; daughter, Kalia Codde of Leesburg, VA; four sons, Peter Donald IV of Kennewick, WA; Edward Alexander of Costa Mesa; John Karl of Corpus Christi, TX; Richard Augustine of Hollywood, CA; a brother, J. Roman Gonzalez of Hialeah, FL; and ten beautiful grandchildren. Friends may call on Monday, July 21, 2003, 6-9 PM, Recitation of the Rosary, 7:00 PM, at Dilday Brothers Mortuary, 17911 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach. Mass of Christian Burial, Tuesday, July 22, 2003, 10:00 AM, Sts. Simon & Jude Church, Huntington Beach. Interment following at Ascension Cemetery, El Toro. Dilday Brothers Mortuary assisting the family. (714)842-7771