Maureen Hudachek

Maureen Carol Russell Hudachek died at her home in her sleep on the afternoon of her 85th birthday. She was a member of St. Alphonsus parish and resident of Ocean Springs, MS since 1963. Maureen was preceded in death by her mother Irene Thoman Russell, father William Patrick Russell, brothers William and John Russell, sisters Martha Russell, Kathleen Luckt, Ruth Halboth, and husband Raymond J. Hudachek. She is survived by sisters Jane Marshall of San Mateo, CA; Frances Smith of Marysville, KS; Mary Lekey of Medford, OR; brother Robert Russell of Eugene, OR; son Bill Hudachek and wife Bobbie Jean Hudachek and step daughter Tara Fountain of Ocean Springs, MS; daughter and son-in-law Mary Anne and Greg Deierlein, grandchildren Katie, Nina and Nick Deierlein of Palo Alto, CA. Maureen was born and raised in Iowa City, Iowa. She was number nine of ten children in a wonderful depression era Irish Catholic family. Her great stories were re-told over the decades about walking miles to school in the snow with hot hardboiled eggs in her coat pockets to keep warm, taking baths in three inches of water since the bath water had to be heated on the stove and carried upstairs, sleeping three to a bed, and plucking chicken feathers to make the family dinners. Maureen was an accomplished seamstress, an exceptional cook in her day and made the most amazing pies like her mother Irene. Maureen was so eager to work as a teenager that she fibbed about her age at the Social Security office since her birth certificate was lost in a house fire. Her big sister Martha later confirmed her birth year. She loved to tell stories about working during WWII rolling bandages for the MASH units and cracking eggs for hours to make dehydrated egg rations. Maureen attended the University of Iowa majoring in Library Science and worked at the university library. During her junior year she met the love of her life, Ray, during a thrilling sledding adventure where they both were thrown in opposite directions at the bottom of steep hill one snowy afternoon. Maureen and Ray were married on August 26, 1950 just before Ray shipped off to Korea for two years. During that time, Maureen lived and worked near her sisters Ruth and Jane in Medford, OR. Maureen and Ray lived in Orinda, CA from 1950 until 1963. Their son Bill was born in Oakland in 1954 and daughter Mary Anne was born in San Francisco in 1960. Maureen enjoyed running errands around the Bay Area in her red 1951 MG TD. The family enjoyed many weekends and vacations hiking and camping in Yosemite and the Trinity Alps. During her husband's 36 year career with Chevron, Maureen set up house in Ohio, Mississippi, Germany, Puerto Rico, New Jersey, Saudi Arabia and the Bahamas. Maureen loved adventure, travel and a Sunday drive. “Tabby” as her grandchildren called her, made sure that they learned to drive her red truck around on her property before getting their driving licenses. She was always so charming, gracious, tenacious with a great smile, sense of humor and contagious laughter. Maureen and Ray were runners for more than 35 years. Many of us remember them running in the early years in their old garden clothes, Hushpuppies and Keds before there were running shoes and clothes. They ran daily on Front and East Beaches. Maureen ran in 10K races such as "Bay To Breakers" in many US cities, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia and the Bahamas. She always placed in her age group including two Leggs Mini Marathons in NYC. Maureen stopped running in August of 2005 at age 79 when Hurricane Katrina washed away her home. She worked tirelessly for three years with her son and daughter on the historic rebuild of the home while living in a cottage and FEMA trailer as Ray was in declining health due to Parkinsons' disease. The new house is a stunning example of Maureen's signature attention to detail, interior design and eclectic flair. Mississippi artist, H.C. Porter, featured Maureen in her Hurricane Katrina influenced “Backyards and Beyond” exhibit, with a painting titled, “Maureen’s Fence”. Maureen fell unexpectedly ill with terminal brain cancer just four weeks after she buried her husband of 61 years on July 20, 2011. Maureen was a seven year breast cancer survivor. Her brain cancer was not related or hereditary. Maureen's best friends Pat Welch, Mary Ann Ederer and Mary Beth Menino visited often and every Wednesday to say the rosary together. Their devotion to the Virgin Mother Mary bonded their friendship since the early 1960's. Their last Rosary together was just two weeks before she died. Maureen was very comfortable at home with wonderful neighbors who visited often, Jennifer Gill and staff at Comfort Keepers, and Saad's Home Healthcare & Hospice. The family is very grateful to all those who cared for her so well including MD Anderson Cancer Center, Singing River Hospital & Cancer Center at Ocean Springs and Pascagoula, Drs. Striegel, Karcher, Kesterson, Persing and Saconn. In lieu of flowers at the family's request, donations can be made to the St. Alphonsus School Endowment Fund. All are invited to attend the visitation and rosary at 1pm on Friday January 6th at St. Alphonsus Church in Ocean Springs. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at 2pm. There will be a brief gathering at Evergreen Cemetery and a reception at the Hudachek home at 314 Jackson Avenue. All are invited to attend. The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.