Our beloved Maureen, mother, grandmother, wife, sister, daughter and friend, died peacefully on February 17, 2023 at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital in Ottawa after a short illness. Maureen was born in 1942 in Lampman, Saskatchewan. She was a registered nurse who trained with the Regina Grey Nuns School of Nursing and worked in operating rooms at several hospitals, including the Misericordia and Children’s Hospitals in Winnipeg, before moving to Ottawa and retiring from nursing in 1991.
Maureen was a talented potter and painter and made a second career as an artist. She graduated from the Ottawa School of Art in 1997 and was a member of the Enriched Bread Artists cooperative from 2001-2004. Maureen’s forte was installation art and sculpture, drawing upon her experience as a nurse to create works that spoke to the essence of being human. She had a presence in the Ottawa art scene, exhibiting at Gallery 101, SAW Gallery, and Carleton University, and at exhibitions as far away as Florida, Mexico City, and Santiago.
Maureen was larger than life, with her tart sense of humour, vibrant personality, deep friendships, and radiant smile. She poured out her love through raising many children, including her siblings, her children, and her grandchildren. Maureen loved to experience the world with her husband, children, and other artists; her travels to Europe, the United States, and the Caribbean created lifelong memories.
Maureen was a devout Roman Catholic and a professed Benedictine Oblate. The Oblates remember fondly times shared with Maureen at the Dom. John Main annual retreats at the Abbaye in Rougemont, Québec. In 2011, Maureen established an ecumenical Christian Meditation Group in Manotick, participating in it until her death. The group continues today and and connects to the wider Ottawa Christian Meditation community.
Maureen is survived by her husband of 57 years, Gail “Sandy”; three children: Todd (Sharla), Tara Laderoute (Eugene), Sean; and five grandchildren, Jordan Sandrock, Phoenix Sandrock, Connor Laderoute, Allison Laderoute and Roman Sandrock; mother Blanche Keating; and siblings: Pat Henderson, Tim Keating (Jean), Terry Keating (Hanna), Dan Keating (Renee); Colleen Keating Brown (Rob), Kevin (Brenda), Kathleen Keating (Ron), Shane (Mervianna), Kerry “Mickey” (Dawn) and sister-in-law Judy Budd as well as more than 85 nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Maureen was predeceased by her father, Francis “Buster” Keating, and her brother, Brian Keating (Judy).
A funeral mass will be held Friday, April 28, at 11:30 am at St. Leonard Catholic Church at 5332 Long Island Road in Manotick (Ottawa) Ontario, with interment and reception following at Capital Funeral Home & Cemetery, 3700 Prince of Wales Drive. Family and friends are invited to share their memories by signing this online guestbook..
In lieu of flowers, family and friends may wish to donate to the Canadian Oblate Community through Canada Helps at The Canadian Christian Meditation Community to support communication and participation in the Rougemont retreats and other events.
We extend our gratitude to the medical and spiritual care staff, including the palliative care team at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital in Ottawa.