Maureen Hanningan

Maureen Hannigan (nee Naughton), age 73, of Wayne, passed away peacefully, in the comfort of her own home with her family by her side on Saturday, August 10, 2019.

Maureen, or “Mo” and “Mosey” as she was affectionately known, was born in New York City. With her loving father Bernard Naughton departing this life when Maureen was just a child of six years, she was lovingly raised at the family’s home located at 521 W. 186th Street by her devoted mother Helen who received lots of wonderful supportive help from Maureen’s two older brothers, Patrick and William.

Maureen received her education from St. Elizabeth’s Elementary School and Cathedral High School, both in the city. Her years in private school were instrumental in inspiring a personal relationship with God and a strong faith that would come to help her make sense of this world and sustain her throughout the varying seasons of life. Soon after graduation, Maureen started her family with one sweet baby girl after another- Colleen, Mary, Terry, and Kelly.

In 1970, she said goodbye to life in New York City, moving across the river into an apartment in Elmwood Park, NJ. She began working various jobs, doing her level best to care and provide for her girls, just like her own mother had done for her. Maureen began working at Hoffmann La-Roche Pharmaceutical Corporation in Nutley as part of the cleaning department. Ultimately, Maureen’s big break came when she landed a job in the security division at that same company. A career in security quickly proved to be her true calling and, over the next thirty-plus years until retirement in 2014, she protected Hoffmann La-Roche with dedication and professionalism, always demonstrating a natural instinct for the duties she was called upon to carry out. Becoming the company’s first ever woman to reach the rank of lieutenant, Maureen received many awards and citations and enjoyed the love and respect of countless company colleagues.

When Maureen wasn’t working, she found great joy in traveling with best friends Marion, Peggy, Kathy and Janice. She especially loved taking cruises but also taking trips all over the U.S. and abroad to places like Ireland where she’d visit relatives.

When with her family, Mo was truly her happiest. “Girls Weekends” with her daughters and weekly gatherings at Grasshopper Too in Wayne made for lots of good times and special memories. During football season, if a game was televised, Mosey was probably tuned in. She especially loved the 49ers during the Joe Montana era, and later loved catching games with “Tom Terrific” and the Patriots. She was always up for getting in on any football pools either at work or with her family.

Maureen’s daughters couldn’t have made her happier than providing the blessing of a big bunch of grandchildren – ten in all! Each one was the apple of her eye and she had a basket full! From sporting competitions and school performances to graduations, “Gram” was always there to cheer them on. She loved playing poker with her grandsons and, no pun intended, you could always bet that there was money at stake.

Christmas was definitely Maureen’s favorite holiday season and everyone always knew that the Christmas Eve gathering was going to be at her house. It was a huge celebration for family and extended family and every year. Maureen had the most stunning Christmas tree adorned exclusively with red and white. She was so serious about her Christmas tree that no one else was allowed to touch it. It seemed like she just couldn’t get enough of decorating so, when her own house was finished, Maureen would head over to decorate her daughter’s Terry and Kelly’s hair salon. Despite having to work almost every holiday, she always managed to show up for celebrations, even if for just a little while. Christmas will never be the same without Maureen.

She will be so missed for her daily phone calls – just to say hi, for her strongly held and expressed feelings about politics and religion, her love of Jeopardy and for her mere presence in the lives of all who were blessed to know her.

Maureen leaves behind her older brother: Rev. Msgr. William Naughton, Associate Director of Pastoral Care at Straight and Narrow and retired Air Force Reserve Chaplain. She also leaves behind a lasting legacy of four loving daughters: Mary Del Balso and husband Michael of Wayne, Kelly Andreas of Wayne, Terry Tighe and husband Rob of Wayne, and Colleen Hannigan and husband Billy Loschiavo of Maywood; ten adored and cherished grandchildren: Billy, Nico, Devyn, Tyler, Ryan, Connor, Kyle, Jake, Robbie, and Shannon; She was predeceased by her other brother Patrick “Pat” in 1988 and her devoted mother Helen that same year.

Maureen’s family’s wish is that in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105-9959 or online at stjude.org as this was Maureen’s favorite charity.