Maureen Himes
Maureen Himes
Maureen Himes
Maureen Himes

Obituary of Maureen Therese Himes

Maureen Therese Himes was born on June 1, 1956 to Virginia and Robert Heidenreich. She joined her mother Virginia (Virge), father Robert (Bob) and best friend Eileen in heaven for a true Mahoney party on March 30, 2021. Her few months were a struggle but she never lost that bright smile and reassuring nature – even at the end. Maureen was always the “showman” when pictures were taken – always striking “the pose”. She went to St. Denis Elementary School on the S. side of Chicago and began her first two years of high school at Bogan High School before the family moved to Western Springs where she graduated from Lyons Township High School. She met Skip in her junior year and the rest, as we say, is history. Skip and Maureen married on August 23, 1975. Together they raised two sons, Garrett and Dylan. They lived in numerous places: Rochester, NY, Ft. Collins, Colorado, Koontz Lake, Indiana, Chicago Heights Illinois, Western Springs, Illinois. In spring of 1984 the Himes family moved to Washington state to be near family and friends - much to the delight of her sister Kathleen. They lived for a short time in Olympia before settling in Federal Way. When they moved to Washington state Garrett was two and Dylan was five months old. They quickly adapted to the sound of the rain and the roar of the ocean. Maureen had a passion for children. She studied Early Childhood Development at Prairie State College, Chicago Heights Illinois. After moving to Washington state Maureen owned and operated a Home Day Care business before beginning a long career teaching Head Start Preschool at the Federal Way School District. Never one to shy away from new opportunities Maureen even spent a summer life guarding at Wild Waves water park. She finished her career driving school buses for Federal Way students. Maureen loved art and music. She looked at everything with a creative lens -always asking “what if?” Her father Bob, a professional artist, used to wink and whisper to Skip how Maureen was overflowing with talent. She loved feel of brush on canvas. Maureen also loved to sing and dance. She could harmonize so naturally when singing the old standards, and even dance the jitterbug. Her boys were her always her pride and joy. Her happy, loving personality shines brightest through Garrett and Dylan – they inherited all of her best attributes. That pride and joy grew by leaps and bounds with grandkids - there was nothing she wouldn’t do for her kids and grandkids – Olivia, Ryan, Jackson and Luka. Maureen was preceded in death by her father Bob, mother Virginia, and sister Eileen. She is survived by her husband Skip, son Garrett and wife Sarah with grandsons Jackson and Luka, son, Dylan and wife Nina, sisters Kathleen and Pamela. Her nieces and nephew, Meghan, Lauren (Logan and Gwen), Cindy, Ally and Tommy were loved and in her heart always. When Maureen lost her sister Eileen in 2003 she strengthened her bond with her niece Meghan. They became closer than most mothers and daughters, sharing the joys of raising a young family. Meghan’s beautiful children Olivia and Ryan call Maureen and Skip grandma and grandpa. Eileen’s son Tommy moved to Washington shortly after Eileen’s death and became a one of our close family – another one of “our boys”. Maureen was rich with friends who loved her as family. Her arms were always open – she always wanted her house filled with people and hosted the best parties! A celebration of Maureen’s life will be planned for a future date when family can safely travel to gather.
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A Memorial Tree was planted for Maureen
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Klontz Funeral Home & Cremation Services
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