Obituary of Maureen A. McGovern

Maureen A. McGovern Beloved Wife, Mother, Sister, Aunt, and friend. We lost Maureen to ALS on October 15th, 2024. She had been diagnosed in May of 2023, it turns out, with a fast-progressing version of the illness. Maureen was born in Castlepollard, Ireland in a Mother and Baby home. She was adopted by Loretta and Charlie Nelson and joined her sister, Beth, in their home in Brooklyn, Michael was adopted a couple of years later to complete the Nelson family. Maureen had a wonderful childhood with many memorable vacations lovingly photo-documented by Charlie. After 12 years of Catholic Education, attending Our Lady of Angels and Saint Savior's, Maureen enrolled at Baruch College and attained a bachelor's degree in finance. After several years working on Wall Street, she married Patrick and dedicated herself to the task of providing a warm, loving home and raising her two children, Oona and Dylan. Maureen was a creative and fun mom, painting the kids' rooms in fantastic murals rather than the usual solid colors. She was never too busy to play with her kids and to help them through life's speed bumps. She never got upset about literal spilled milk. Once the kids had grown and left the nest Maureen began helping other families with their children. She was a nanny to Joseph and Grace for many years and loved them like her own. Even when this wretched disease affected her so badly, she was trying to help parents with their kids and having to stop was one of the hardest decisions she ever had to make. She volunteered for many causes, both social and political through the years. She was a true champion for the environment not only working for causes but in her everyday habits. She leaves a hole in our hearts and in our lives that will never be filled. Her first concern after diagnosis was a selfless one; she asked that we remain a strong family after she was gone and that we continue to love each other and remain the same loving family. We will do our best, but it will be challenging without our core but she taught us well. In addition to Patrick, Oona, and Dylan, Maureen leaves behind her sister Beth, brother Michael, and her nieces and Nephews, Tony, Sherin, Sean, Tommy, Allison, Brian, Phillip, Bridget, Erin, Danny, Michelle, Danielle, Cassidy, Ryan, and her Great-Nieces and Great-Nephew, Mathilda, Eliza, Cole, Cami, and Bella. The funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at 10:30am at Sacred Heart Church 343 S. Broad Street, Trenton, NJ. Calling hours for family and friends will be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the FitzGerald-Sommer Funeral Home 17 S. Delaware Avenue, Yardley, PA 19067. Maureen's wish was that in lieu of flowers, donations could be made to an organization she enthusiastically supported for years, The Children's Home Society of New Jersey. Condolences for the family can be left at www.fitzgeraldsommerfuneralhome.com.