12/5/18 Adele Briseno Garza wrote on Facebook:
So sad to hear the passing of an ole grammar school friend. Maureen my friend you will be missed. Enjoyed our reconnection on Facebook. I know you fought as hard as you could. May you now Rest In Peace my friend.
Maureen passed away December 2, 2018, in Nevada. Her FB page is still active; you can view comments and condolences expressed to her husband and family.
I copied this from Maureen's Facebook page
Local author pens Christmas short story to honor reader
https://www.journalstandard.com/news/20181223/local-author-pens-christmas-short-story-to-honor-reader 1/2 By Jane Lethlean Correspondent Posted Dec 23, 2018 at 10:52 PM Updated Dec 23, 2018 at 10:52 PM
FREEPORT — When she wrote her first novel in 2010, Terri Reid of Freeport began a friendship with a reader who reached out to her through Facebook. The two women struck up a friendship that lasted until Maureen McDermott’s death on Dec. 2. McDermott lived in Las Vegas, and while author and reader would never meet face to face, McDermott left a lasting impression on Reid.
Reid said she learned of McDermott’s death from her niece. Reid reflected on her friendship, what she had learned about the woman, and sat down at her computer to write a short story called “Reena’s Miracle,” which was published through Amazon and was available for Kindle as of Dec. 12.
“Maureen was one of the first readers that reached out to me when I published my first book,” Reid said. “She is someone I never met, but I considered her a friend worthy of telling a story about the kind of woman she was. I was blessed with her friendship, and she embodied the spirit of Christmas.” Reid has published nearly 50 books and short stories since 2010. Every year she writes a short story, and while she had no plans to sit down to write during the busy season of Christmas, she reflected back, and a vision of goodness overcame her to think about her friend and what she meant to so many.
″‘Reena’s Miracle’ contains characters of people I have met, and those that have come upon harsh situations, and when I incorporate the character of Reena, it is with Maureen in mind, about how she made a difference in the lives of others,” Reid said.
In the dedication of “Reena’s Miracle,” Reid writes, “To Maureen — always an angel, sleep in heavenly peace.”
“To me, Maureen is an angel. I thought she needed a story,” Reid said.
The book is a story about the giving of Christmas. It’s a story of people who needed to be reminded of the reason for the season. The character of Reena, in an annoying way, teaches others how to be nice, be kind, be generous and stop to notice the plight of others.
“Christmas is more than gifts, and not about the self, but the feeling of love and how to be neighbors,” she said.
Patty McDermott of Chicago is Maureen’s niece. She has read the short story dedicated to her aunt, and said she is “touched” to know that a heartwarming story is reflected by the nature of an aunt who captured essence. “Terri’s story really touched me because it was reflective of my aunt’s sweet, giving, loving and inclusive nature. She always wanted people to feel loved and welcome,” Patty said.
“Terri nailed that aspect of her personality on the head. Also, needless to say, this is a difficult holiday season for my family, so Terri’s story helped to make it a little less sad by giving us something positive on which to focus. Knowing Terri cared that much about my aunt to use her as an inspiration for this story is very special and very sweet. I think my aunt would have loved this story.”
“Reena’s Miracle” can be found to download at Amazon.com.
Jane Lethlean; jlethlean1210@gmail.com; @DOGWMN2
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Adele Briseno (Garza)
This is just beautiful. What a lovely memory for Maureen's family. Thank you Terry Reid.