A tribute to Maureen Thomas, former Secretary of Wrexham Newman Circle and President of the Newman Association, who died on August 7th 2022 aged 87.
A former Secretary of Wrexham Newman Circle and President of the Newman Association, Maureen Thomas died on August 7th aged 87.
A note by Carole O'Toole, Chair of the Wrexham Circle
Maureen's zest for life was infectious. Whether talking about the latest novel she had read, the next talk she was preparing, the most recent garden visited or her next idea for a Newman meeting, Maureen's commitment to any project undertaken was remarkable and all consuming.
Dedicating a huge amount of her time to the Newman Association both locally in Wrexham, where she served as a very hardworking secretary for more than 30 years, and as a member of Newman Council from the 1990s until the 2000s, including as President from 2003 to 2005. Maureen never tired of telling me about her experiences as President. I imagine she would have been a force to be reckoned with when chairing Council meetings!
Maureen was very proud to represent the Newman Association at various events. She was a strong supporter of Andante, the European Catholic women's organisation, and I enjoyed listening to her tales of all the fascinating people she had met at the various conferences she had attended.
Maureen had many interests and, never afraid of a challenge, embraced new ideas with an enthusiasm which inspired all who knew her. She had an MA in Garden History and two years ago she contributed a very scholarly article to this journal on monastic gardens. There was great detail on Cloister Garths, Physic Gardens, Infirmary Gardens and much more.
She was a lively conversationalist and I know that many Newman members who met her on Newman pilgrimages and at other events enjoyed her company immensely. Whether talking about her personal family history − she seemed to have relatives across the globe − or John Henry Newman, about whom she was very knowledgeable, Maureen was fun and engaging to be with. She had a great sense of humour. Always ready to consider new ideas, she never tired of fighting for the causes she believed in energetically.
A great lover of life Maureen lived it to the full. She had a wide circle of friends, dating back to her schoolmates in Ireland, and will be sorely missed by them all; none more so than her many friends in the Newman Association. It was a privilege to have known Maureen. Our thoughts are with her family, her sons and grandchildren, of whom she was so very proud.
RIP Maureen.