Sunday, August 16, 2020
Theresa Banfield
MY SISTER
Maureen was my sister but much more, she was my best friend, my rock,
my connection to the universe, to my family, my stability, she was a home body,
a mother, a wife, a home maker, I was a roamer, rambler or meanderer . We have
always had a very special and unexplainable connection. Growing up it was always
Theresa and Maureen like one person. In our adult years living apart we
always kept a very close connection. When we would get together, when I finally settled
down and had a family, I would see that she had the same joggers or haircut even the same underwear which we had never discussed earlier, In would say to Maureen " when did you cut
your hair or when did you change your brand ? I am not talking Fashion Trends !
We were different in many respects but so much alike and connected in many more ways.
When Mom and Dad died she became the glue that keep our family connection.
The Matriarch .
Maureen lived a full family life, raising a son, Bill, Jr., and a career and later running a family business.
She adored her grandchildren and later her great grandchildren.
Maureen and Bill were like parents to both our daughter, Tracey and son, George,Jr,
during their university years, since they could not travel home on weekends, unless
it was a holiday as we were on two Islands, Maureen and Bill in Nova Scotia and George
and I in Newfoundland. They referred to Tracey as the "daughter we never had? After retiring, Maureen decided she wanted to become foster mom, Bill agreed and together they fostered, I think, 59 Special Needs Babies and Children. She was much more than a foster mom, she asked that the children call her Nan and for Bill to be called Poppy or Pops, her reasoning was that these children would eventually go for adoption or return to their biological parents and she did not want to confuse them as to who were their parents. One particular child who was in her care for over four years ( from NICU) was adopted and when introduced to her new grandparents said " no Nanny and Poppy are my grandparents ", and to this day they still are.
Maureen gave her all, to love and nurture and teach her special children in hopes
of overcoming the many physical, mental and psychological challenges in their tiny lives.
I can honestly say that she made significant and sometimes seemingly miraculous changes
in the lives of "her babies". I know this to be true because I witnessed it as it happened.
My sister is a Angel.
Maureen, you may not be physical present anymore but you will always be here.
I love you Sis.
