Maureen Margaret Hurst, balanced work and family
Maureen Margaret Hurst, 83, of Ocean View, formerly of Princeton Jct., N.J., and beloved and devoted wife of James (Jim) Francis Hurst for 60 years, died peacefully at home Monday, Nov. 2, 2021. Born Sept. 12, 1938, in Camden, N.J., Maureen was the daughter of the late George and Thelma (Shenaman) McClay of Medford, Pa.
She was a graduate of Camden Catholic High School in 1956 and Misericordia School of Nursing in 1960. Maureen was a Registered Nurse, working in intensive care and the emergency room in several hospitals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, a job that would impress her kids because, during snowstorms, the National Guard would take Maureen to work. In the early 1980s, Maureen turned in her nursing gown (yes, they still wore them then) and put on a skirt suit with a bow-tie blouse to enter the corporate world, breaking through glass ceilings and breaking up the "boys club" during her career. After she switched careers to work at Johnson & Johnson, Maureen retired after 25 years as the regional director of health and wellness. Among her many outstanding accomplishments during her career at Johnson & Johnson were her leadership and service for the NJ Child Assault Prevention Project and the Johnson & Johnson School Nurse Fellowship Program. Maureen was the quintessence of a "working mom," balancing work while raising five children with Jim. In addition to success at work, Maureen was very active throughout her entire life, volunteering and participating in many organizations including the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and the PTA, while never missing an event for any of her five children. Once retired in Delaware, Maureen was an active volunteer with the Bear Trap Dunes Homeowners Association and served on the Beebe Healthcare Board of Ambassadors.
Maureen enjoyed traveling the world with her husband Jim, visiting over 60 countries, and enjoyed attending major events for all of her grandchildren. Maureen loved getting together over the holidays with her friends and family, and looked forward to the annual summer Outer Banks vacation with her children and grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, survivors include daughter Karen Howell and husband Tom of Bethlehem, Pa.; son Jim and wife Susan of Chicago, Ill.; son Michael of Asbury Park, N.J.; son Tom and wife Robin of Yardley, Pa.; son Paul and wife Melissa of Washington, D.C.; two sisters, Thelma Whitaker and Audrey Inglesby; and sister-in-law Carole Hurst. She leaves behind 12 grandchildren, Christopher and wife Callie, Alexander and wife Maria, and Shannon Howell; Jack and Alice Hurst; Daly, Maclane, Noel and Jess Hurst; and Dylan, Luke and Will Hurst.
Family and friends are invited to visit Tuesday, Nov. 9, at St. Ann's Church, 691 Garfield Pkwy. in Bethany Beach at 10:30 a.m., followed by Mass at 11:30 a.m. Burial will be at Gate of Heaven in Dagsboro.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made in memory of Maureen to Beebe Healthcare – South Coastal Health Campus, https://www.beebehealthcare.org/donate.
Melson's Funeral Home, of Ocean View DE, is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.melsonfuneralservices.com.
