She was born in St Louis, Missouri, on October 18, 1938, to John Michael Mohan, Sr., and Helen Dee Mohan. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Eugene Joseph Didion; one brother, John Michael Mohan and one sister, Patricia Mohan Shea.
She is survived by her three daughters, Janet Didion Gilker, Jeanne Didion Stringfellow, and Tricia Didion. Also including her son-in-law, Jay Stringfellow; her grandchildren, Jarred Gilker (Morgan), Zachary Gilker (Allie), Arden Gilker (Keith) Sheldon Gilker, Harrison Gilker (Kate), Raegan Gilker (Chris), Eileen Gilker, and Eve Gilker; Jordan Stringfellow, Jane Marie Stringfellow, Natalie Stringfellow, and Evan Stringfellow, as well as her great granddaughter, Korinne Stringfellow.
Maureen was a wife, mother, grandmother, photographer, volunteer, college student and philanthropist. She was known to her family as Mom, Grammy, and “Mo.” Her happy place was Alaska. That and her love of photography led her to camping at Katmai National Park taking pictures of the Kodiak bears during the salmon run, various wildlife, and small sea creatures for the Center of Alaskan Coastal Studies. She took all twelve grandchildren individually on a trip of a lifetime to see the bears and camp in Alaska. In addition to Alaska, her love of bears took her to the outskirts of the Arctic Circle – Churchill, Manitoba. There she photographed the polar bears and their cubs, snowy owls, foxes, and birds. She would document the bears along with other polar bear enthusiasts in subzero temperatures. In both Alaska and Churchill she made many friends with whom she still kept in touch. She made her final trip to Alaska and her beloved bears in August 2023.
She loved being involved in the community. She was a Red Cross volunteer (teaching swimming of all levels and CPR), worked with the Sebastian County Republican Committee and volunteered for the Junior Civic League Red Stocking Revue (painting scenery, dancing, and singing).
She was a former Administrative Director for the Montessori School in Fort Smith.
In addition she was the past director of the We Care Foundation and Camp Dream Street, a camp for children who have cancer or blood related diseases and their siblings – where children could go and be a “kid” again.
She was instrumental in grant writing and fundraising to help pay for the camp as well as gas cards, and scholarships for children wishing to continue with higher education. She loved the camp and still kept in touch with some of the former campers, and scholarship recipients
“Mo” was a lifelong learner. After a short time in college at St. Louis University in 1956, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership with a minor in Psychology from the University of Arkansas, Fort Smith in 2011.
She published her first research paper entitled “The Implications of Climate Change on the Population of Polar Bears in Manitoba Canada Longitudinal Study 2000-2019.” It took her seventeen years of monitoring the polar bears to write her paper. She never got to finish her paper on WWII vets. She was a nontraditional student, and loved what the program offered to its students.
Maureen with her adventurous spirit, love of nature, learning and helping others left a lasting legacy for her family, as one strong amazing woman.
The family would like to extend special thanks and love to her caregiver and friend, Vessie Cantrell.
Rosary will be Sunday, May 12 6:00 Edwards Funeral Home Chapel
Funeral Services are Monday, May 13, 2024 11:00 at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Barling, Arkansas. Maureen will be buried at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in St Louis at a later date.
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