Obituary for Ann Maureen Surra (Mulholland)
August 28, 1926 – April 18, 2020
Mount Joy, PA
Ann Maureen Surra, loved for her feisty personality and generous spirit, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 18th, 2020 after a long illness. She was 93.
Maureen is survived by six children; David T. Britt [Kickie] of Potsdam, NY; Edmund J. Britt II [Lillian] of Wakefield, MA; Kenneth D. Britt of Northampton, MA; James M. Surra of East Greenbush, NY; Scott R. Surra [Becky] of Ronks, PA; and Sandra M. Surra Rinchik [William] of McLean, VA. She is predeceased by her parents, William “Timmy” Mulholland, and Bridget Delia “Bebe” O’Meara Mulholland; brothers Eugene and William; and husbands John O’Donnell Britt and John William Surra.
Maureen was a proud grandmother to Matthew, Rachel, Roberta, Miranda, Alexander, Alexandra, Casey, Emma, and Ethan, as well as her great-grandchildren Lindsay, Claire, Dorothy, and Declan.
She is also survived by sister Catherine Mulholland, of Buellton, CA; brother and sister-in-law Robert and Barbara Surra of Kenmore, NY; sister-in-law Anne Marie Surra of Chandler, AZ; and several nieces and nephews.
Maureen was born in Buffalo, New York. Raised in Blasdell, she was a 1943 honor graduate of Mount Mercy Academy in Buffalo, and a 1946 graduate of the Millard Fillmore Hospital School of Nursing, graduating as a Registered Nurse. She did additional study at the University of Buffalo leading to her certification as a Public Health Nurse.
Maureen was married to Jack Britt in 1947 until his death in 1954. She next married Jack Surra in 1956 until his death in 2009. In the early 1950’s she worked for the Erie County, NY Public Health Department as a supervising nurse. She was a civil defense nursing supervisor in the 1950’s, coordinating shelter drills during the Cold War, and had a central role in Erie County’s 1954 Salk Polio Vaccine trial. As her family grew, she worked as a registered private duty and clinical nurse at various facilities.
In 1966, Maureen relocated to the Capital District of New York, where she and Jack eventually built a family home in the rural Columbia County hamlet of Malden Bridge. She returned to public health nursing and training, after which she helped Jack fulfill his duties as town assessor.
Maureen left upstate New York with Jack after his 1984 retirement to join family and immerse themselves in the warmth and culture of San Antonio, Texas. For nearly three decades, Maureen delighted in exploring its heritage and beautiful River Walk, joining her beloved Red Hat Society girlfriends for outings, and proudly treating visiting grandchildren to adventure days with “Nana Moe” at Fiesta Texas or excursions to El Mercado. She indulged her wanderlust with road trips to visit loved ones throughout the United States and, in 2007, fulfilled a lifelong dream of touring ancestral lands in Ireland and Scotland.
Maureen had a keen eye, steel-trap memory, and deep love of learning. Conversant on any subject, her extensive vocabulary peppered discussions. With interests ranging from world history, cultures and geography to architecture and design, she devoured books on any subject and remained an avid reader throughout her life.
Following Jack’s passing, Maureen opted for California living. She moved to Laguna Niguel in 2014, where she enjoyed holidays and outings with family, weekly pizza nights on the beach, and strolling the grounds of Mission San Juan Capistrano. Maureen flourished among new friends in her senior facility, who swept her into daily bingo, bunko, dominoes, water aerobics, and reading circles. Local Red Hat ladies welcomed her warmly, and loving neighborhood families rounded out her coastal community.
In 2017, Maureen returned east to be near family in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Days were now quieter, colored with reading and book discussions, enjoying the company of her loyal dining table companions, and helping her team to Jeopardy victory. She was happiest showing off her beloved great-granddaughters who charmed the residents, bringing joy and smiles to many and a twinkle to their Nana Mo’s blue Irish eyes in her final days.
She had uncompromising fashion sense, a straightforward nature, and fierce loyalty to family. Maureen was one of a kind. She was deeply loved and will be missed.
The family thanks Michele Glover and the staff at Keystone Villa, Ephrata. We are grateful to Dr. Matthew Brennan, the nurses and staff at the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Center; the visiting nurses and caregivers of Hospice and Community Care; and the nurses and caregivers at the Bob Fryer and Family Inpatient Hospice Center for their compassionate care.
Per Maureen’s wishes, services will be private. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice and Community Care of Lancaster, P. O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA, 17604 or hospiceandcommunitycare.org.
Arrangements by Stradling Funeral Homes, Inc., Akron/Ephrata. Online condolences can be given at stradlingfuneralhome.com.
Mount Joy, PA
Ann Maureen Surra, loved for her feisty personality and generous spirit, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 18th, 2020 after a long illness. She was 93.
Maureen is survived by six children; David T. Britt [Kickie] of Potsdam, NY; Edmund J. Britt II [Lillian] of Wakefield, MA; Kenneth D. Britt of Northampton, MA; James M. Surra of East Greenbush, NY; Scott R. Surra [Becky] of Ronks, PA; and Sandra M. Surra Rinchik [William] of McLean, VA. She is predeceased by her parents, William “Timmy” Mulholland, and Bridget Delia “Bebe” O’Meara Mulholland; brothers Eugene and William; and husbands John O’Donnell Britt and John William Surra.
Maureen was a proud grandmother to Matthew, Rachel, Roberta, Miranda, Alexander, Alexandra, Casey, Emma, and Ethan, as well as her great-grandchildren Lindsay, Claire, Dorothy, and Declan.
She is also survived by sister Catherine Mulholland, of Buellton, CA; brother and sister-in-law Robert and Barbara Surra of Kenmore, NY; sister-in-law Anne Marie Surra of Chandler, AZ; and several nieces and nephews.
Maureen was born in Buffalo, New York. Raised in Blasdell, she was a 1943 honor graduate of Mount Mercy Academy in Buffalo, and a 1946 graduate of the Millard Fillmore Hospital School of Nursing, graduating as a Registered Nurse. She did additional study at the University of Buffalo leading to her certification as a Public Health Nurse.
Maureen was married to Jack Britt in 1947 until his death in 1954. She next married Jack Surra in 1956 until his death in 2009. In the early 1950’s she worked for the Erie County, NY Public Health Department as a supervising nurse. She was a civil defense nursing supervisor in the 1950’s, coordinating shelter drills during the Cold War, and had a central role in Erie County’s 1954 Salk Polio Vaccine trial. As her family grew, she worked as a registered private duty and clinical nurse at various facilities.
In 1966, Maureen relocated to the Capital District of New York, where she and Jack eventually built a family home in the rural Columbia County hamlet of Malden Bridge. She returned to public health nursing and training, after which she helped Jack fulfill his duties as town assessor.
Maureen left upstate New York with Jack after his 1984 retirement to join family and immerse themselves in the warmth and culture of San Antonio, Texas. For nearly three decades, Maureen delighted in exploring its heritage and beautiful River Walk, joining her beloved Red Hat Society girlfriends for outings, and proudly treating visiting grandchildren to adventure days with “Nana Moe” at Fiesta Texas or excursions to El Mercado. She indulged her wanderlust with road trips to visit loved ones throughout the United States and, in 2007, fulfilled a lifelong dream of touring ancestral lands in Ireland and Scotland.
Maureen had a keen eye, steel-trap memory, and deep love of learning. Conversant on any subject, her extensive vocabulary peppered discussions. With interests ranging from world history, cultures and geography to architecture and design, she devoured books on any subject and remained an avid reader throughout her life.
Following Jack’s passing, Maureen opted for California living. She moved to Laguna Niguel in 2014, where she enjoyed holidays and outings with family, weekly pizza nights on the beach, and strolling the grounds of Mission San Juan Capistrano. Maureen flourished among new friends in her senior facility, who swept her into daily bingo, bunko, dominoes, water aerobics, and reading circles. Local Red Hat ladies welcomed her warmly, and loving neighborhood families rounded out her coastal community.
In 2017, Maureen returned east to be near family in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Days were now quieter, colored with reading and book discussions, enjoying the company of her loyal dining table companions, and helping her team to Jeopardy victory. She was happiest showing off her beloved great-granddaughters who charmed the residents, bringing joy and smiles to many and a twinkle to their Nana Mo’s blue Irish eyes in her final days.
She had uncompromising fashion sense, a straightforward nature, and fierce loyalty to family. Maureen was one of a kind. She was deeply loved and will be missed.
The family thanks Michele Glover and the staff at Keystone Villa, Ephrata. We are grateful to Dr. Matthew Brennan, the nurses and staff at the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Center; the visiting nurses and caregivers of Hospice and Community Care; and the nurses and caregivers at the Bob Fryer and Family Inpatient Hospice Center for their compassionate care.
Per Maureen’s wishes, services will be private. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice and Community Care of Lancaster, P. O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA, 17604 or hospiceandcommunitycare.org.
Arrangements by Stradling Funeral Homes, Inc., Akron/Ephrata. Online condolences can be given at stradlingfuneralhome.com.