Maureen Alice Bianco

Maureen Bianco, 2021

Maureen Alice Bianco died peacefully at home, surrounded by her six children, on September 19, 2024. Maureen was born in San Francisco, CA, on August 7, 1939, to John and Carmel O’Hara. Her mother desperately wanted a big family, and after four miscarriages, prayed a novena to the Blessed Mother, and she became pregnant! Maureen’s parents considered her a miracle and “the apple of their eye.” When she was 3 ½ years old, her brother Jack was born, and for about a year, she had a “big sister,” when her cousin MaryAnn came to live with them. She grew up in San Carlos, CA, at the time a small town only 25 miles from San Francisco. Life was simple; time was spent at family gatherings and with neighborhood friends Linda, Mary, Marge, Nan, and especially her cousin Connie, who lived a half block away. Maureen got her love of music from her father, who often had Nat “King” Cole playing on the phonograph. As a small child, he would pick her up and dance around the living room. After hearing Dick Contino on the radio, she fell in love with the accordion and began taking lessons, later teaching both piano and accordion to earn extra money.

She attended Notre Dame in Belmont from grammar school through college, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in History from the College of Notre Dame in 1961. Although she initially had plans to attend law school, she met the love of her life, Santa Clara law student Philip Bianco, during her freshman year in college, and that changed everything. They met while attending one of those dances the all-boys’ schools organize to meet women from the all-girls’ schools. She was excited; he was a good dancer, and so the two started dating. Because they were miles apart, and Phil studied A LOT, they were lucky to see each other once a week, usually for a movie. Maureen claimed Phil wasn’t real romantic, but enough to make her swoon. She was just 20 years old and a junior in college when they married on September 12, 1959. Their first child was born in July 1961, just one month after Maureen graduated from college.

After Phil passed the bar exam in 1962, they moved to his hometown of Visalia, CA, where Maureen, expecting their second child, became especially close to Phil’s older sister Elinor, who already had six kids and eagerly shared parenting advice. Life was busy but a blessing, and by November 1967, their family had grown to include five children.

During those years raising her family, Maureen found a renewed sense of faith with bible study and was an active volunteer in her community. She became quite involved with the American Association of University Women (AAUW), and while her children attended George McCann, she helped with school fundraisers and class trips. After her youngest daughter was diagnosed with cancer, she became a lifelong volunteer for the American Cancer Society, arranging transportation for cancer patients, and organizing the Relay for Life. Later, she became a member of the First 5 Tulare County Commission, where she gave 24 years of service.

In addition to volunteering, Maureen enjoyed playing tennis with her best friend Mercy, biking adventures to Three Rivers, and summer vacations spent sailing and relaxing at Huntington Lake with Phil and the kids.

Her biggest surprise came with the birth of her sixth child in 1979, just as the oldest was going off to college. Once he started kindergarten, rather than spend her days playing tennis, she challenged herself by going back to school. At age 50, she earned her Master’s Degree in Health Education from California State University, Fresno. She had plans to go for a PhD before she turned 65, but decided being a hands-on Grandma was a better fit for her.

One of her greatest loves was travel, and with Phil’s blessing, she began travelling internationally with family and friends, first to the British Isles in 1981, and then as far as China and New Zealand. Her favorite trip though was the first one Phil joined her on in 1992 to Italy. It was then they developed a lasting friendship with Basil & Kathy Perch, and Mike & Nadeen Fistolera. After that trip, Phil and Maureen travelled together nearly every year until 2014.

Maureen called Phil “the best thing that ever happened to me.” They were married for 62 years, when he passed away in 2021. Despite her loss, she continued a life of independence, faithfully attending mass, going to lunch with lifelong friends, and visiting with her grandchildren.

Maureen is survived by her six children, Lisa (William) Marich, Luke (Elie) Bianco, John (Suzanne) Bianco, Deirdre (David) Mangine, Yvonne (Theo) Papanickolas, and David (Megan) Bianco, along with 21 grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Jack O’Hara.

Maureen’s life will be celebrated with the following services: On Friday, October 11, there will be a viewing at Miller Memorial Chapel at 5 p.m., followed by a rosary at 6 p.m. On Saturday, October 12 there will be a Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 8 a.m., followed by a burial at Visalia Cemetery, and reception at the Vintage Press at 10:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to George McCann Memorial School.