Anyone that was fortunate enough to know Maureen Redfearn, knew that she was a voracious reader. Maureen was a well cultured woman with a love of the sheer poetry, rhythm, meaning, and structure of language, which was very apt, for this remarkable, special person, who worked in a library for most of her career.
The greatest gift, that Maureen ever gave, was to teach how to love unconditionally. Maureen always put the needs of her family, before her own. She knew how difficult, and painful her final battle with Cancer would be, but courageously chose to face it for the sake of the people she loved in the deepest possible way. The love Maureen had for her husband Michael, and his love for her, was comparable in romance, to that which can be found in her favourite realist English Literature novels; it was passionate, devotional, and all encompassing. This was never more apparent than in the last 3 days of her life. I could never begin to tell you all that Michael did to keep Maureen alive, and hopeful; he was her advocate in the hospital, pouring his unbelievable strength, and love, into her at the bleakest of moments, keeping their children together when they were on the verge of being over taken by grief.
Maureen, Michael, Kathryn, and David have had an incredible journey together as a family, loving each other intensely as best friends. They explored the world on holidays throughout Europe, and visited the United States. They shared so many experiences, because Maureen believed it was essential for her children to have their eyes opened to as much history, and culture as possible. Throughout these experiences, Maureen and Michael, talked to their children with complete openness, and spent the majority of their time together laughing. Maureen delighted in the happiness of her children, and their children. She was proud of everything they accomplished, Kathryn as a teacher, and David in the R.N.L.I. It made her very proud that both of the men in her life had saved so many lives.
Maureen was always supporting, and or, doing good for someone; there are many in this community who can attest to that. Her many friends will miss her greatly, she was always there whenever anyone needed her, and she never ever judged anyone. She was a well-respected Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and colleague.
In the last 10 years Maureen shone in her role as a Grandmother. No grandchildren could have ever been more loved than Millie, Theo, Tia, and Kathryn’s baby bump. From baking cakes, to adventures out, she used her amazing parenting skills to inspire creativity, and imagination in her little ones. Her final request was to ensure that they have the best possible start in life, to give them the brightest future, entrusting this task to their parents, and especially her beloved husband, their Granddad Michael. Maureen desperately wanted to hold her fourth Grand baby in her arms, and intended to be with her daughter Kathryn at the birth. She knows the gender, and name, and focused her love on baby bump during her last 2 weeks. Maureen would sit for hours, feeling her Grand baby kick, and laughing whenever the baby did.
Maureen fought with all her strength until the end, and was a comfort to her loved ones even in the face of her own passing. Maureen took strength from God, and lived her life as a reflection of his love and goodness. In her final hours there were things that took place that could only have come by his hand, to bring her home in the most beautiful way imaginable.