Shanks, Maureen

By Canton Citizen

Maureen Shanks (Moran), of Canton, formerly of Hyde Park, died peacefully on September 3, 2026. She had just turned 76 years old.

Maureen grew up in Roslindale, the daughter of Margaret and George Moran. One of eight children, Maureen was predeceased by her brother Eddie and is survived by her brothers James Moran and his wife, Joanne, Robert Moran and his wife, Joanne, and George Moran and his late wife, Judy, and her sisters Ann Mitchell and her late husband, John, Marilyn Lennon and her late husband, Bart, and Eileen Graham and her late husband, Pat.

Maureen was a graduate of Roslindale High School, Westfield State University, and UMass Boston, where she earned her master’s degree in nursing while in her 40s. Nursing brought Maureen great professional satisfaction and pride, as well as deep friendships and sisterhood. She worked the floors of hospitals, taught students at Blue Hills Regional, served as director of nursing in several homes, and served on the board of the Massachusetts Nurses Association. She mentored countless women and men along the way, elevating the standard of care through both her example and her expectations. In her declining years, she would remind her caregivers, “I’ve been a nurse for over 50 years,” and would skillfully guide them in her own care.

Family was most important to Maureen. She was an unwavering source of strength and love to her late husband, George; to her children, Jennifer L. Casey and her husband, Matthew, of Canton and their children Samantha, William and Benjamin; Daniel A. Shanks and his wife, Jennifer, of Newton and their children Tucker, Macallan and Lavinia; David T. Shanks and his wife, Julie, of Canton and their children Lila, Nathan and Calvin; and Kathryn L. Shanks of Canton and her daughter Ariana.

She was cherished by many beloved nieces and nephews, especially Michael and Karen Bottary and Bob and Stacy Bottary, whose children she counted among her own grandchildren.

Maureen was a memory maker. She lived her last years joyfully, spending time with her beloved grandchildren and sharing with them the things she loved: gardening, cooking, decorating for the holidays, knitting blankets, creating mosaics, playing cards, and traveling. And they, in turn, shared their lives with her, teaching her to love lacrosse, soccer, baseball, flag football, breakdancing, their art, how to win at BS, and their impromptu performances. She never missed a moment.

Her end-of-life care was supported with great compassion by the women of Good Shepherd Hospice and Celtic Angels, and especially by Djoune Thelusmond, who could always make her laugh.

A funeral Mass was held on Wednesday, September 9, in St. John Chrysostom Catholic Church, West Roxbury. Arrangements by the Pushard Family Funeral Home, 210 Sherman Street, www.roache-pushard.com.

Donations may be made in Maureen’s memory to the National Aphasia Association. Please support Brigham Nurses United.

À jamais.

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