Maureen McGibbon
Maureen was born on June 8, 1928 in Belfast. She was the third of 10 children to her parents Mary Catherine and Frank McAllister.
She went to Saint Vincent’s Primary School and attended daily Mass at The Passionist Monastery.
When WWII began Maureen left school and got a job as a Seamstress in Ellison’s, across the street from the Europa Hotel. She used to go to the dances with her girlfriends and it was there she met her husband, Tom. And it was through Tom that we have the local connection as Tom’s grandparents were from Banbridge. It was love at first sight for Tom. Of course, it was wartime and after the war was over, Tom quit his job in Harland and Wolf’s and emigrated to Toronto, Canada. As soon as he settled there with a job etc., Tom sent for Maureen and they were married in Canada. They honeymooned in Niagara Falls. They then moved to Brooklyn, New York, where Tom became a Mechanical Draftsman after years of study. Maureen’s father died in 1954, while Maureen was pregnant, so Maureen had to return to Ireland for the funeral, hence Fran being born in Belfast!
She and Fran returned to Brooklyn when Fran was 3 months old.
Tom and Maureen then bought a house in Queens, New York, very near Donald Trump and his family. A second daughter, Laura, joined the family followed by Elizabeth 7 years later. Maureen and Tom worked hard to give their children Private Catholic Education. Maureen was a home-maker, active in the Parents Teachers Association, raised money for the Church, and found time to help the Girl Scouts. She was a cleaning fanatic, always cleaning the family home.
A great swimmer, Maureen ensured they always had a Swimming Pool in the backyard and she was the designated Life Guard. She always invited the children in the neighborhood to play at their house and swim in the pool. She was always helping those less fortunate, especially the local children.
While Maureen looked after the home, her husband Tom continued to work very hard and he designed the HVAC System for the World Trade Center.
They moved to a new house, this time to The Jersey Shore in a town called Toms River and an even bigger inground swimming pool took pride of place!
Tom and Maureen were extremely happy but unfortunately Tom took sick with Asbestos Disease and passed away on 18th January 2001. His body is interred in our adjoining cemetery. Maureen continued to live on her own in Toms River for many years before moving in with her family in New York, but still loved to return to her own house in Toms River on weekends.
In 2002, they bought the house in Ballycastle and Maureen loved to spend her summers in County Antrim as well as visiting their home in Florida in the winter months.
Maureen developed spinal stenosis and the last year was a real struggle for her. She was unable to walk without assistance and soon she had to get around in a wheelchair. She passed away very peacefully with her whole family and the Parish Priest in attendance. She was loved by all that knew her. She was great fun and always had a quick answer for everyone. Her kindness, generosity and quick wit are her enduring virtues. The family will miss her deeply but so happy to re-unite her with the love of her life: Tommy McGibbon. Maureen is being buried with Tom on the same day he passed away!
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