Maureen Patricia WILKENS

1934 - 2025

WILKENS, Maureen Patricia (Murphy) Age 90, of Osterville, MA and Palm Beach, FL left this world on April 6, 2025, at Cape Cod Hospital, surrounded by loving friends and family. Maureen was a force of nature right up until the day she passed, never one to shy away from sharing her opinion and always willing to share generously with those in her midst.

Maureen was born on August 2, 1934 in Winthrop, MA, the third child of Jeremiah F. Murphy and Miriam Murphy (Shaw). She is survived by son, Frank Wilkens, III of Putney, VT; son, Stephen Wilkens, wife, Karen and granddaughter, Emily of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; son, Daniel Wilkens, wife, Sandi, grandsons, Jakob and Logan and great-grandson, Owen of Lake Oswego, OR; and son, David Wilkens, wife, Molly Pindell and grandchildren, Juliette and Soren of Stowe, VT. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 52 years, Frank Wilkens, Jr.; her parents; and her two brothers, Jeremiah Jr. and Richard.

Maureen was a 1952 graduate of Ursuline Academy in Boston. She attended New Rochelle College and transferred to Emmanuel College, where she graduated in 1956. She met her husband, Frank, in 1956 at a Harvard Business School mixer and they were married April 5, 1959. After spending three years in Akron, OH, where Frank worked for General Tire, they lived in New York City, Bronxville, NY and Greenwich, CT, where they settled for 20 years to raise their four boys. After

Frank retired in 1991, they moved to Cape Cod, where Maureen and Frank began their 35-year philanthropic legacy. They intentionally focused on serving the needs of the Cape Cod Community, making transformative gifts to the Cape Cod Community College and the Cape Cod Hospital Healthcare Foundation as well as many other vital community organizations. Additionally, Maureen and Frank were resolute benefactors of Maureen's alma mater, Emmanuel College. Maureen was particularly committed to making a positive impact on the lives and outcomes of single parents, both mothers and fathers.

Frank and Maureen spent winters in Palm Beach, FL, where they enjoyed entertaining their sons and their growing families over the years. But she was always a New Englander at heart and Cape Cod was her true home. Maureen was a member of the Oyster Harbors Club, Osterville, MA, Craigsville Beach Club, Centerville, MA and the Beach Club, Palm Beach, FL.

Maureen was a world traveler; with Frank, she visited 80 countries on seven continents. She created many treasured memories by sharing this passion with her children and grandchildren. She relished a great meal, fine wine, and the occasional Goombay Smash with family and friends.

Maureen was tough- in the words of a close friend, "a cataclysmic teller of truth," but she had a tender heart and enjoyed a great laugh. She will be missed by many. Cape Cod has lost a legend.

Public Visitation Hours will be held at Chapman Funeral Home, John-Lawrence Chapel, 3778 Falmouth Road, MARSTONS MILLS, on Friday, April 11, from 4-7pm. A private Gravesite Burial will be followed by a public Celebration of Life from 1-4pm, on Saturday, April 12, at the Oyster Harbors Club.

Flowers are welcome, but in lieu of flowers, please give to your preferred health and human services focused nonprofit. For notes of comfort to family, please visit www.chapmanfuneral.com