BIRD, Maureen H., 70, September 1, 2012. Arrangements by Bowers Funeral Home.
Maureen Harriet Brown Bird died in her home on September 1, 2012. She had been undergoing treatment for stomach cancer for the past year. She was 70 years old and is survived by her daughters, Kaleo Lisa Bird (and husband Tu Huynh), Rebecca Bird (and partner Adrienne McWilliams) and their father, John Bird; as well as grandchildren, Magnolia and Calder Huynh. In addition, she is survived by her siblings Marilyn Brown (and friend Ken Hodsdon), Mildred Melville (and husband James Melville), Janet Moore, Charles Brown (and wife Catherine Brown), and their families. She is also survived by her dear friends, Gail and David Ruttenburg of Auburn, ME.
Maureen was pre-deceased by her mother, Emilie Brown, her father Maurice (Buster) Brown and her long-time friend, Jerome Donerkeil.
Maureen was born on October 20, 1941 in Meridan, CT and raised in Oakfield, Maine. She was valedictorian of Oakfield high School’s class of 1959. She graduated from Maine Medical Center’s School of Nursing in 1962 and was married to John Russell Bird of Ocean Park, ME on July 1, 1968. They made their home in Ocean Park, ME before moving with their two daughters to Hawaii in 1982. After the marriage ended, Maureen continued to live in Hawaii, until 2007, when she returned to Oakfield to be near her family. She worked as a nurse in hospitals in Maine and Hawaii and as a home care nurse until her cancer diagnosis in September, 2011.
Maureen was an avid gardener and church-goer as well as a member of Sweet Adeline’s chorus in Hawaii, and an active member of the Red Hat and Purple Hat Societies. She enjoyed quilting with the Tuesday Quilters, line dancing and participated in many bible study groups. She fulfilled a life-long wish to visit Alaska by taking a cruise with the Red Hat Society in 2006. She was an enthusiastic and active participant in her grandchildren’s lives.
Services were held at Oakfield Baptist Church at 1pm Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. Pastor Naomi Sam-Kpakra presided. Remembrance donations may be made to Maine Cancer Foundation, 170 US Route 1, Ste. 250, Falmouth, ME 04105.
