Maureen Clegg

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Maureen Clegg (nee Mulligan), age 72, of Lincoln Park.  Maureen passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 31, 2022 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Maureen was born in West Orange and lived there for about a year in the barracks for American GI’s returning from war.  She was the younger of two daughters to Edward and Dorothy Mulligan.  When she was only about a year old, Maureen and her family moved to Wayne where she grew up and spent her formative years.  As a young lady, she attended DePaul high School in Wayne where she was a member of the Choir and Glee Club.

Following her graduation in 1968, she enrolled at the St Joseph’s School of Nursing in Paterson.  After three years, Maureen received her certification as a Registered Nurse.  She found employment quickly and accepted a position in the emergency room at St Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson.  She later worked in the Intensive Care Unit there as well as the same day surgery department.  She continued her passion for nursing at St Vincent’s Nursing Home in Montclair and later in Cedar Grove where she earned the title of Assistant Director of Nursing in 2006.  Maureen spent nearly thirty-five years at St Vincent’s and her career as a registered nurse spanned over forty-five years until her retirement in 2015.  She was truly well respected and loved by her peers and colleagues.

In 1969, Maureen was introduced to a handsome young man by the name of Steven Clegg.  Steven’s college roommate introduced the two and they went out on a blind date.  Maureen and Steven hit it off great and started dating.  As fate would have it, they fell in love and on November 6, 1971, they became husband and wife at Our Lady of the Valley R.C. Church in Wayne.

The newlyweds first settled in Wayne for about four years then moved to Lincoln Park where they have been ever since.  After moving to Lincoln Park, Maureen and Steven welcomed the births of their three children, Steven, Kristin, and Kaitlyn.

Although Maureen was dedicated to her career as a nurse, she was truly devoted to her children.  For many years she was an active member and past president of the Lincoln Park PTA and later very active at DePaul High School and Morris Catholic High School while her children were students there.  It was truly apparent to everyone that knew Maureen that her greatest passion in life was for her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Maureen than providing for and spending time with her children and grandchildren.  Her spare time was spent attending her children’s and grandchildren’s school plays, and sporting events.  She and her husband Steven cherished fifty-two years of a loving and loyal marriage.  Maureen was not only dedicated to her family, but she was also dedicated to her Catholic Faith.  She and her family were longtime parishioners of St Joseph’s RC Church in Lincoln Park and was also a Eucharistic Minister there.

Maureen was a wonderfully outgoing person who truly cared about the welfare of others.  Her dedication to her profession completely defined her as a person, she was always willing to put the needs of others before her own.  While a parishioner at St Joseph’s Church in Lincoln Park, she privately cared for the priest there who was diagnosed with cancer.  She was truly proud of her Irish heritage and was famous throughout her family for her cooking specialty, American Chop Suey.

Maureen was genuinely a special person who touched the lives of everyone around her.  She will be forever remembered as being dedicated to her profession, and as a devoted wife, mother, and “Nana”.

Maureen is survived by her husband Steven Clegg of Lincoln Park, NJ, one son Steven Clegg and his wife Dianna of Butler, NJ, two daughters; Kristin Bell and her husband Christopher of Pompton Plains, NJ, and Kaitlyn Clegg and her fiancé Jered Clifford of Stamford, CT, one sister Carol Corazza of Oak Ridge, NJ, four grandchildren; Braeden Bell, Logan Clegg, Andrew Bell, and Mason Clegg, one nephew Joseph Corazza and his wife Michelle, two grand nephews; Matthew Corazza, and Paul Corazza, and one grandniece Amelia Corazza.  She was predeceased by her parents Edward and Dorothy Mulligan, her nephew Matthew Corazza, her brother-in-law Joseph Corazza, and her mother-in-law and father-in-law Charles and Shirley Clegg.

Those planning to make a donation in Maureen’s name are asked to consider the American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org, PO Box 42040, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 or Michael J Fox Foundation 469 7th Ave, New York, NY 10018 http://www.michaeljfox.org

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