Maureen Frances Townley

SPARTA — Maureen Frances Townley passed peacefully at her home, surrounded by loved ones, on Saturday, July 7, 2018 at the age of 86. Maureen was born in Queens, NY to William and Anne (Searson) McGuinness. She married John Townley on June 7, 1952 and they eventually settled in Sparta, NJ where they were longtime residents before recently moving to Randolph, NJ. As a young woman, Maureen attended Our Lady of Wisdom Academy in Queens, NY and later in life took classes at Sussex County College. Maureen was an avid reader and lifelong learner. She was blessed with a green thumb and loved working outside in her garden or inside with her beautiful houseplants. Maureen and John enjoyed playing tennis, traveling, entertaining and spending time with friends and family. When she was not busy raising her large family (and later spending time with her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren), Maureen gave generously of her time in a variety of volunteer endeavors. She was a very active member of Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic Church and spent many years volunteering for church and school events, assisting at bingo, and teaching Pre-Cana classes with John. She volunteered at Manna House, Sussex County Helpline, Meals-On-Wheels and other organizations that were near to her heart. Maureen was loved by all, and will be greatly missed by those who knew her. She was predeceased by her husband John and is survived by her two daughters; Mary Townley and Karen Titus and her husband Dan, her five sons; Jack and his wife Donna, Neil and his wife Diana, Bob and his wife Linda, Bill, and Andy and his wife Karen, sixteen grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Family and friends are invited Thursday July 12, 2018 4-8 pm to Goble Funeral Home 22 Main Street Sparta. A 10 am Friday Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Lake RC Church, 294 Newton-Sparta Rd, followed by interment in Sparta Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in Maureen’s name to The Alzheimer’s Association of NJ - www.alznj.org