Maureen Julia Quinn Gilmartin, 87, passed away on September 16, 2021. She was born in Arlington, MA on November 7, 1933 to Mae Manning Quinn and James Walter Quinn. She graduated from Fitchburg State Teachers College in 1955 with B.S. in Nursing. She was a registered Nurse.
She met Robert E. Gilmartin, a local Fitchburg boy while waiting for a bus with a friend when she was in college. He liked to tell the story, that she said “Hey, Sailor” and the rest was history. They married in Arlington, MA in September 1957. They were married 61 years.
Growing in Arlington, Massachusetts she started school at the age of four and graduated high school at the age of sixteen. Many of her best childhood memories were spent at their cottage with her siblings and cousins in Antrim, NH. Their father would drive them to the cottage on the first day of summer and they spent all summer there, playing outside making up games. On the weekends their father would come along with other family members and all had a good time.
She believed in her husband and his ability to provide for them. After their wedding they settled in Fort Collins, Co. for a short period until they became pregnant with their first child. Robert packed her up and took her back to Massachusetts and told her he would be back when he got a job. Their next stop was Harrisburg, Pa then onto Burbank, California.
In 1966, the family moved from California to Houston, Texas. They settled in Nottingham Forest for over twenty five years. It was there where she forged many of her lifelong friendships, raised her four children, learned to play tennis and bridge and hosted many neighborhood parties. She was the mother who prepared a home cooked meal ready every night and went to school and sporting events with a smile. She was the Meadow Elementary Halloween Carnival Peanut and Pickle lady for over a decade.
As a couple Robert and Maureen were a team. While he was a natural born salesman she was the saver and organizer of the family. She paid the bills and kept track of their finances. She enabled her husband to realize his dream in 1976 of starting his own business by her thrifty ways of managing their household. She also kept track of all of their rental properties throughout the years.
Later in life after raising her children she was able to buy a place in Harwichport, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. For over twenty years she spent July at the Cape. visiting with her brothers and sisters and and college roommates. She loved the ocean, fried clams, lobster rolls and Sundae School ice cream treats. Her home was open to relatives who also got to enjoy time at the Cape.
She was very kind and generous to a lot of people, never looking for recognition. She enjoyed life immensely with her four children and five granddaughters.
Maureen was preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. Gilmartin, parents, brothers, Thomas M. Quinn, and James W. Quinn, Sister Jacqueline Quinn Aiken, son-in-law James Ham, and brothers -laws Edward W. Feeley ,Edward Aiken Paul Gilmartin and Phillip Gilmartin and sister- in -law Cynthia Gilmartin. Left to honor and cherish her memory are daughters Jacqueline Ham, Julie Krempa and her husband John Krempa. Sons Robert Gilmartin and James Gilmartin. Granddaughters Lindsey Ham, Katherine Ham, Caroline Krempa, Quinn Gilmartin and Suzannah Gilmartin. Sister Eleanor Quinn Feeley. Sisters-in-law Mary Ellen Quinn, and Dorothy Gilmartin. Many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be Monday, November 8th at 10:30 a.m. at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church, 11720 Joan of Arc Dr. Houston, TX 77024 with a luncheon reception at Perry’s Steakhouse at 9827 Katy Freeway to immediately to follow. Burial at Houston National Cemetery will be at a later date.
