MAUREEN BRUNO
28TH JUNE 1955 - 11TH FEBRUARY 2018
Maureen Constance born on 28th June 1955 to Charles and Margaret Smith, the second of four children.
Maureen grew up in Cowley with her parents and 3 siblings, the late Suzanne, Adrian and the late Nigel.
Maureen attended Temple Cowley School where she met good friends Pat & Chrissie, who have told us the story of bunking off "Cross Country" running to go to Maureen’s house for tea and toast! I’m sure they have many more happy and funny memories, and indeed stories, to share!
After leaving school, Maureen qualified top of her year in hairdressing. She was selected to represent the region at competition level, after coming 1st, Maureen was then selected for the national competition where she came 2nd.
After meeting at a Bingo Evening at "Pressed Steel social club", Maureen and Pasquale married seven years later August 20th 1977 here at "St Anthony of Padua" and honeymooned in Italy.
One summer in the early 70s Pas & Maureen set off on their long drive down to "Montoro Superiore" in Southern Italy where Pas was born. On their arrival at the Port of Dover, and at passport control Pas & Maureen we're arrested. Pas had forgotten to pick-up the "Logbook" for the car when they left. The special branch officer thought Pas had stolen the car & was taking it to mainland Europe to sell, they we're kept in separate rooms. During their 6-hour detention, Maureen was panicking; she had 3 weeks' pay in sterling on her. In those days you could only take out of the country 2 weeks' pay in cash, thinking on her feet Maureen asked to use the toilet, where she duly put one weeks' wages down her knickers, and not removing said money until they we're well into France. During this time Pas asked the officer to phone Cowley Police Station and contact PC Wally Cox who would verify his identity and so be on their way in no time, not so, the SB officer was having none of it, he still thought the car was stolen, after several hours in detention, the officer relented and phoned, to cut a long story short, thankfully Wally was on duty, drove to Marston found the Logbook, drove back to Cowley verified the information on the Logbook and they we're duly released and on their way to Italy. For those of you that knew Maureen by now would have realised that Pas would have made himself very scarce for the 3 weeks that followed. But he was to dine well on that story for many years to come.
They went on to have 4 daughters, Sofia born in 1979, Katrina in 1982, Linsey in 1987 and Laura surprised them in 1993!
After moving from Bicester to Monmouth Road, Maureen on one of her many nursery runs meet Jeanne, who would become a good friend and confidant, sharing many secrets from their husbands, one being "Sherry mornings" while the kids we're at nursery.
After successfully navigating ‘the girls’ (as Maureen and Pas affectionately refer to them) through childhood, nothing made them happier than witnessing their daughters marry and have families of their own. Proper grown-ups!
Maureen was immensely proud of the girls and their achievements, and particularly enjoyed spending time spoiling her precious grandchildren Olivia and Oliver.
Maureen was a very popular lady and enjoyed entertaining, thinking nothing of cooking for twenty people or more, and generally taking life in her stride.
Maureen was a legendary cake maker and would often take annual leave days to make cakes for her favourite charity "Children In Need" and friends or colleagues, usually staying up until the early hours adding the finishing touches.
Maureen was also very artistic, making the bouquets and buttonholes when the girls married, and three of the four wedding cakes.
When Maureen was diagnosed with cancer she instructed Pas in the art of cake making, saying
"It will be down to you to make the cakes for the girls and grandchildren's birthdays" and also not "forgetting Christmas". Always a forward thinker.
Maureen was a devoted wife, loving mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and a great friend too; she will leave a huge hole in the lives of many, many people.
Maureen will be greatly missed and forever in our hearts.