Obituary of Maureen Anne McCracken

February 28, 1955 – Rhyl, Wales

May 11, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

On the afternoon of Saturday, May 11, 2024, a warm and gentle soul, Maureen “Momo” Anne McCracken, surrounded by her grown children and her works of art, departed at the age of 69 years.

Maureen came to Canada with her family from England by ship when she was a child. She developed a strong work ethic from a young age and had a wide variety of occupations, including factory worker, medieval dance troupe member (!), and leatherwork business sole proprietor. After her children were born, she went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drawing and woodworking from the Alberta College of Art, a Bachelor of Literary Studies from the University of Calgary, and a Library Sciences diploma from SAIT.

Maureen’s two main passions were her children and her work. She spent most of her adult life as an artist and mother, creating woodworks, leatherworks, paintings, and drawings. When her children were little, she could be found working out on the porch on the final details of kinetic wooden toys she had made for them, carving small child-sized desks or handmade stilts, or writing little tests to encourage their learning. Graduating from the Alberta College of Art and Design, with her children by her side, was one of the happiest days of her life she said, rivalled closely by a perfect day that the trio had spent together on a sunny beach on Vancouver Island.

Throughout her life Maureen designed, measured twice, and cut once. She learned to sew as a child and showed seasoned confidence as she applied design know-how to clothing, furniture, and layouts, using her drawing skills to create sketches and blueprints for just about anything she wanted to do.

Maureen also enjoyed writing poetry, and between writing, designing, and drawing, may have had a pen in hand for most of her life. Her children, and daughter especially, apologize for so frequently invertedly moving them.

Maureen loved dancing and watching dance performances. She also loved throwing dinner parties for her friends, where she put on music, lit candles, prepared stuffed salmon, wine, and trifle, and shared conversation into the evening.

In later years chronic pain and other physical obstacles made many of these activities impossible, but Maureen always endured with loving humour, good spirit, and persevering strength, and she brightened every day for those who loved her.

Maureen was honest, compassionate, hardworking, and playful. She would help others even when she didn’t have much herself and treated all life with gentleness and respect.

For her children, Maureen was a treasure to have in their lives. Though she will be greatly and sorrowfully missed, she left them a radiant example of all kinds of good character.

Maureen is survived by her son, Chris Gilkison, daughter Carrie Gilkison, sister Jan Lindsey, nephews Jamie and Liam, and nieces Jessie and Sara. She was preceded in death by her mother, Mona McCracken, father Michael McCracken, brother Shaun McCracken, and sister Tara McCracken.

A Celebration of Maureen's Life will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB), on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home. 

As we celebrate Maureen’s beautiful soul and accomplishments, yet grieve the tremendous loss of her from our lives, the family asks that you wear what feels right to you, be it black, white, or colours to recognize her warmth and love for painting. Please wear bright, light, or dark, formal or a little more comfortable, whichever you find solace in while remembering Maureen.

Maureen liked to support local and international charities of all kinds that help people in difficult circumstances. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made to one of the following organizations. Maureen can also be honoured by being kind and honest with those around you, or helping a stranger in need:

Hope Mission, PO Box 85082 Calgary, AB T2A 7R7, Telephone: (403) 474-3237, www.hopemission.com/calgary/.

The Kerby Centre, 1133 7 Ave SW, Calgary, AB, T2P 1B2, Telephone: 403-265-0661, www.unisonalberta.com/donation-onlinetab=kerby_centre. 

Operation Smile Canada, 75 University Ave., Suite 204 Toronto ON M5G 2J5 Telephone: 647-696-0600, www.operationsmile.ca/., 

Doctors Without Borders, 551 Adelaide Street West Toronto, Ontario, M5V 0N8, Telephone: 1 (800) 928-8685, www.doctorswithoutborders.ca.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Maureen’s family here.

In living memory of Maureen McCracken, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.