Maureen G. McClendon, 89, of North Platte, passed away December 2, 2022, at Azria Health in Sutherland, Nebraska. Maureen was born February 12, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York. She also lived in Atlanta, Georgia, Anchorage, Alaska and San Francisco, California, the city which brought joy to her soul.
She was a foster child for several years and as a teenager Maureen lived in a convent for a time. Her deep faith came from overcoming the many challenges life presented her. With her Irish grit, she solely raised and supported her daughter, Kathy.
While in San Francisco, Maureen completed studies at the University of San Francisco earning a Bachelor of Arts in Theology in 1987. She owned and operated McClendon Castle Bed & Breakfast for 25 years, just three blocks from Golden Gate Park, after completing her college degree. She welcomed the stranger, fed the hungry, and comforted the sick while offering the best of her Irish hospitality. She also volunteered as a Chaplin at Saint Mary’s Hospital and enjoyed the fine arts San Francisco offered.
Just prior to her 80th birthday in 2013, she came to North Platte by invitation of friends she had made through her business and ultimately made North Platte her home. Though she returned to San Francisco for visits, she came to understand that God had led her to North Platte for a reason. She was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Maureen was a resident of the Buffalo Bill Manor until mid-September when she moved to Azria Health due to worsening health conditions.
While living in Anchorage, Maureen met her good friend of 47 years, Marty Margeson. She was proud of her Irish heritage and became Marty’s daughter Beth’s Irish Gramma – she would attend Beth’s Irish Step Dancing competitions and cheer her on to her trophies. She and Beth had a special relationship sharing stories and humor. She used her positive attitude to cheer Beth on to be the best person she could be.
Always compassionate, she was a prayer partner to many and knew how to uplift people’s spirits with her positive attitude and winning smile. She knew how to greet challenges and walked through them with her faith. She ignored her loneliness and isolation created by her challenges of diminishing vision and hearing. She greeted everyone with a cheerful hello, humor, smile, and sometimes out-spoken opinion. With her deep faith and spirit, she no doubt continues to pray for her many friends and family.
Maureen was preceded in death by her parents and younger sister. She is survived by her daughter, Katherine A. Sander of Martinez, CA, grandchildren, special long-time friends, Marty, Annie and Beth Margeson of Anchorage, Alaska, fellow parishioners, and many other friends.