Maureen Cunningham Naprstek, born March 18, 1929, died peacefully, surrounded by children and grandchildren, on March 14, 2023 in Eagle, Idaho.
Raised in Ascension Parish, Oak Park, Illinois, Maureen won a full-tuition piano scholarship to the Ursuline Academy, a boarding school in Springfield, IL. Due to homesickness, she returned to Oak Park mid-year and graduated from Providence High School in Chicago, where she loved the ethnic mix of new girlfriends. She then studied two years toward a degree in Spanish at Rosary College (now Dominican University) in River Forest, IL.
On 4/17/1950, Maureen married Frank Nichols Naprstek, a fellow Oak Parker and visual artist, who preceded her in death 25 years ago. They had five children: Nancy Nichols, Caroline (David) Evans, Joseph Naprstek (deceased), Ginny Cunningham, and Neil (Angela) James. Thirteen grandchildren ensued: Jefferson, Dana & Casey; Jason (deceased), Zachary, Luke, Amy (deceased), Ben, & Amanda; Corey, William “Kelly”; Keira; and Elitza. Great-Grandma Maureen loved to hold each of her 17 great-grandbabies and to pet her Idaho granddogs: Ty, Chief and Yetti.
Gardening was Maureen’s lifelong avocation. Ginny fondly remembers our mom pulling her in the wagon, surrounded by gardening supplies, walking a mile to each grandparent’s home to flower-power their yards, too. When Nancy began piano lessons, taught by Maureen’s Ascension teacher, Mother Columba, our grandpa bought us a used upright piano. From then on, our home was filled with Mom playing her favorite classical and popular pieces. Caroline and Ginny also caught the piano bug and continued to play into adulthood. Maureen kept her relationship with Mother Columba, treating her to ice cream at the best local parlor. Unlike parish priests, the nuns shared one old station-wagon and were not allowed inside eating establishments at that time. Mom did her cheery best to perk up her cherished teacher with ice cream in the car.
As children, we saw many examples of our mother’s kindness to others. A very elderly man, living on Chicago’s skid row, walked our suburban neighborhood selling aprons door to door. Mom always invited him in, asked him about himself and made him a cup of tea. A sandwich or slice of her home-made coffee cake or pie went with it. We often visited our Great-Great Aunt Irene and her pet canary Mitch, bringing her lunch and hugs.
Our brother Joe lived his life with Mom, reciprocating her dedication to his toddler needs for leg casts, followed by high-topped shoes connected by a curved bar between them, thereafter learning to walk again. Baby brother Neil surprised us all when Mom was 38. He was a wheel rider and wheeler/dealer from an early age, who later loved sitting Mom in his speed boat, bouncing over Lake Michigan waves, and who followed Dad’s early training as a small plane pilot.
Fifteen years ago, Maureen and Joe moved from Geneva, IL to Eagle ID, settling near to Caroline, Ginny, and Neil. Mom loved her new home and neighbors. When Joe died, grandson Corey moved in and brightened Grandma’s spirit immensely. They continued to enjoy worship and friends at Legacy Life Church in Meridian. Four days shy of her 94 th birthday, we salute our mom, Maureen, and our father Frank, whose remains will be buried with her now. We will keep them in our hearts, always.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at Bowman Funeral Parlor, 10254 W. Carlton Bay Dr. in Garden City with visitation beginning at 10:00 am. A private family committal will take place at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery.
To watch the funeral service, please visit: https://vimeo.com/817984068?share=copy
Arrangements are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor of Garden City.