Mary Maureen Wildin

GLENDIVE, MONTANA: Mary Maureen Wildin, age 58, passed away on Thursday, November 13, 2008, at the Aware Adult Supportive Home in Glendive. A Life Tribute service will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 in the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive, with Celebrant Sandy Silha officiating. Interment will be at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 in the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Cemetery in Hardin, Montana. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with arrangements. Maureen was born on August 28, 1950, in Hardin, the daughter of Albert and Virginia (Thomas) Wildin. She had lived in a variety of locations and had received her education in Hardin, Morton Grove, Illinios, at the School for the Deaf and Blind in Great Falls, Montana, and Billings, Montana where she graduated from Billings Senior High School with the class of 1971. Maureen had worked at various jobs which included helping at a day care center, baby sitting and as a Library Aid at the Garfield Elementary Library. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by two aunts and numerous cousins. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome.com. Mary Maureen Wilden Life Tribute Service Silvernale-Silha Funeral Chapel, Glendive, MT December 9, 2008 Song: “Angels Among Us” by Alabama dedicated to cousin Shelly Welcome: Master of Ceremonies Lead 121st Psalm Song: “The Lord’s Prayer” Eulogy: Life Tribute Professional, Sandy Silha Mary Maureen Wilden was one of those special people who would bring a smile to your face. Known to all as Maureen, she loved jokes and had an endless supply of jokes and riddles to get your attention and make you smile. Born August 28, 1950, Maureen was premature and very tiny. She was blind in one eye and had vision problems with the other. Maureen’s parents had lost 4 babies before Maureen’s birth, and she was their only surviving child. Maureen’s start in this world was a bit rocky and she faced special challenges throughout her life. After the loss of four babies, Maureen’s father worshiped his only daughter. It was a great tragedy when he died of melanoma. Maureen was only nine at the time of his death. In her young life, Maureen moved around quite a bit and went to several schools, including the School for the Deaf and Blind in Great Falls, Montana. But Maureen, even with her impaired vision, learned to read. She would tell about a teacher who took a special interest in her and helped her learn to be a very good reader. This teacher asked Maureen if she wanted to learn to read, so she could read to her mother and father. Of course Maureen did, so this teacher would sit Maureen on her lap and they would work on Maureen’s reading skills until Maureen was the top reader in her class, and Maureen was so proud that she was able to read to her Mom and Dad. The time and interest this teacher took with Maureen stayed with Maureen throughout her life. It was these reading skills that Maureen found she could use in her jobs at the school library and daycares she worked at. She was due to become a reader at the Eastern Montana Veterans Home, here in Glendive. Another specialty of Maureen’s was music. Maureen’s mother was an accomplished pianist and Maureen often would sing for friends and relatives when her mother would play. Maureen had a knack for remembering the words to music and there weren’t many songs she didn’t seem to know. Her favorite music was from the 60’s and she listened to it often. The moving around Maureen experienced in her youth, inspired a love of independence and a love of travel. She even traveled to England where her family had relatives. On her trip to England, she had the experience of meeting and shaking Princess Diana’s hand, someone Maureen was fascinated with. Maureen’s independent nature peaked when she was able to live on her own. With the help of her mom checking on her, and the seeing-eye dogs, which she loved, Maureen was very proud of having her own place to call home. But the time came when she needed more assistance to live. After trying different things, Maureen came to the A.W.A.R.E. Adult Supportive Home here in Glendive. For Maureen, it was a good fit. The other residents and the staff became not just her friends, but also her extended family. She loved them and they her. Maureen was very social and they loved her jokes and her gift of gab. Maureen loved to talk, especially about her family. She and her friend Mary would visit for hours. Over the years, Maureen had friends that she had established a pen pal relationship with. She wrote letters almost every day according to her friend, Mary. Eventually, Maureen got a tape recorder and she began to exchange voice tapes with her pen pals. Maureen was very kindhearted and unselfish. She gave out many gifts, especially to the ladies. One of the gifts each lady at the Home received from Maureen were red and green beads. Most mornings, Maureen would go across the street to the Senior Citizens Center and exercise and visit with the ladies there. Some of her friends from the Senior Center would come to visit Maureen at the Home. If the Center was serving a good dinner, Maureen would even stay and eat at the Center. According to friend Mary, Maureen especially loved the bar-b-que chicken. Recently, both Maureen and Mary were trying to lose weight, and Maureen was so very pleased at her progress, she had lost 41 pounds. She was very careful about what she ate and was even buying some of her own food to help her stay on her diet. Maureen was quite capable of making her own meals. One memorable meal was when she made spaghetti and poured clam chowder over the top of it. She swore to the others that it was delicious. Maureen also helped with some of the household chores at the Home. She would clean her own room and do laundry. Maureen didn’t particularly like to work, but she would tell the staff that she would do it because they wanted her to. Maureen was very intelligent. One of the staff people said she seemed to almost have a photographic memory when it came to remembering certain things. Maureen was always correcting their spelling and she constantly used big words, such as “copesthetic”. Maureen was quite a teacher. Maureen enjoyed taking the bus and going places around town. A favorite destination for Maureen and Mary was Dairy Queen where they would go for “pop”, a favorite of Maureen’s. Generally, they would overindulge with a blizzard. If the staff would quiz them about their excursions, Maureen would tease and say they had went to the “O” to look for cowboys! (For those of you not from Glendive, the “O” is a local tavern.) Maureen, Mary and the other lady friends named themselves the “Grant Avenue Cluckers!” Their mission was laughter and fun. One staff person summed it up when she termed Maureen “a blessing.” Maureen certainly had her challenges in life, but she didn’t feel sorry for herself although at times she would get very lonely. An aunt, Elaine Wilden, observed that Maureen, throughout her hardships, would pick herself up and carry on…she had great gumption and a great sense of humor; she was… amazing. Maureen’s formal church was Episcopalian and she believed in a heaven spent with loved ones in the hereafter. She looked forward to that time fearlessly, and with great hope. Much was important to Maureen; her stuffed animals, her independence, her pen pals, her seeing eye dogs, music, the framed, latch hook pictures she made and decorated her room with, her jokes, conversations and laughter with friends, pop and tea, her godchildren, the A.W.A.R.E Home staff and residents, her family. Maureen was a woman who felt deeply and loved much. She touched many lives with her fun loving ways, her kindness, her love. She will be greatly missed. Let us now listen to a song chosen by Maureen’s aunt Elaine, “How Great Thou Art” sung by Elvis Presley. Song: “How Great Thou Art” by Elvis Presley Closing: Life Tribute Professional, Sandy Silha It is an important day when we stop to bear witness to a person’s life and times among us, the difference her living and dying made among family and friends and to take time to express our grief, our hope, our wonder, and our memories. Thank you for being here for this important time. We have a special opportunity today, because Maureen made a tape of her obituary for her friends and family to hear. We will hear Maureen express her hope, her wonder, her memories and her love in her own words. This tape was recorded two years ago. Please listen. Maureen’s recorded obituary 23rd Psalm led by Sandy You will find the words to the 23rd psalm on an insert in the memorial folder you were given as you came in today. Please join me in reading aloud the 23rd Psalm. 23rd Psalm Tomorrow, Mary Maureen Wilden’s cremated remains will be buried with her father, Albert Wilden, at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Cemetery in Hardin, Montana. One of Maureen’s requests for today’s service was to read the Lord’s Prayer. Today we had the Lord’s Prayer in song, tomorrow we will say the prayer at her committal service. “When someone dies, you don’t get over it by forgetting; you get over it by remembering, and you are aware that no person is ever truly lost or gone once they have been in our life and loved us, as we have loved them.” (Leslie Marmon Silko) Maureen also had a message to share today. These are her words: “Remember me with tears and laughter, or don’t remember me at all.” We will close Maureen’s life tribute service with two songs requested by her for today’s service, “Onward Christian Soldiers” and “Rock of Ages”. Jake Fields, a special friend of Maureen’s from Billings will sing, and another friend from Billings, Cindy Corwin, will play the piano. Maureen’s songs: “Onward Christian Soldiers” and “Rock of Ages”

Mary Maureen Wildin

August 28, 1950 - December 9, 2008

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Mary Maureen Wildin

August 28, 1950 - December 9, 2008

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support