Longtime Middlesex Community College employee
Published December 31, 2020
NORTH READING — Maureen Hudson, 70, of North Reading died at home, ending her battle with cancer.
She is deeply missed by her husband of 52 years, John, her children Peter Hudson (Becky Plourde), Kimberley Howe (Derek), and Corinne Crossley (Andrew), as well as her grandchildren, Emma, Sarah, Julia and Parker Hudson, Annika Howe, and Cricket and Rhett Crossley.
Born in Dorchester to George and Miriam Murphy, she spent her early years as an eager student, dutiful older sister to Sharon, and stealing away for an occasional special trip into the city with Nana. Most special were their holiday trips to see the Enchanted Village and eating blueberry muffins at Jordan Marsh.
In her junior year of high school, she met her lifelong partner, John, at a Civil Air Patrol meeting. Just days after graduating from high school, they married and spent only a short time together before he was shipped out to serve in Vietnam. Maureen spent the first year of her marriage living with John’s family, who had recently lost their mother to a sudden illness. Ever the caretaker, Maureen made early attempts at learning to cook for her new family members that earned her the nickname “Blowtorch Sal,” (due to her penchant for overcooking).
This time left her deeply bonded with her brothers-in-law David and Bill, as well her sister-in-law Peg and father-in-law John Sr.
Upon John’s return, they settled into their life together and Maureen became a mother with the birth of Peter. Over the next nine years, their daughters Kimberley and Corinne were born. In a role that she embodied, Maureen loved her children deeply and was a constant supportive presence in their lives participating in PTA meetings, acting as a coordinator of the Arts Workshop program, in addition to cheering them on at baseball games, crying at every dance recital and valiantly (if unsuccessfully) attempting to program the family VCR on their behalf.
Ever full-hearted, she was known to offer care beyond her family, be it welcoming guests to the holiday table, playing secret Santa to a struggling family, or packing an extra school lunch for kids who didn’t have one.
Maureen made many friends in her 30-year career in purchasing for Middlesex Community College, where she worked until nearly the last weeks of her life. She was known to help people out, even when their paperwork was filed incorrectly or late, and always had a glowing story to share about her children or grandchildren.
She delighted in her children finding loving marriages. She sidestepped the trope of the horrible mother-in-law, and her loss is felt deeply by all. Within each of these partnerships was the arrival of grandchildren, thrilling Maureen. She was known as Meme or Mame, depending on which one you ask, and Emma, Sarah, Julia, Annika, Cricket, Parker and Rhett brought laughter and joy to every visit, craft project or chat with them. They showered her with gifts of any ladybug-related item they could find (a favorite of hers) so that vibrant red with black polka dots spread over her home, office and even her car.
Once an empty nester, Maureen added to her second act by pursuing her degree with a focus on art history. She reveled in learning the cultural context of art and expanding her point of view beyond her life experience. Her ready laugh and loving presence are deeply missed.
Due to COVID, a small, private ceremony will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home. A springtime celebration of life is planned for a later date. Donations can be made to the Aradhya-Beauchemin Arts Scholarship at Middlesex Community College or the Cancer Center at Mass General Hospital, scholarships for adult students or the MFA. Those who wish to honor her memory are also invited to bake, craft, wear a sparkly pin or beautiful scarf, curl up with a good mystery novel, enjoy a spuckie with a tonic, fall asleep to an old movie or tell someone you care about how much you love them — often. To leave a message of condolence, visit www.croswellfuneralhome.com
