Maureen J. DeVou, 76, of New Port Richey, Florida, passed away suddenly on Monday, March 24th, 2025.
Maureen “Renie” was born on September 6th, 1948 in Portland, Maine. She attended Biddeford High School where she graduated class of 1966 and then attended Bliss College in Lewiston, ME. In 1967 she moved to Florida with her adopted family; the Studley’s, with whom she served as an au pair since 1963 and graduated from Valencia College in Orlando, FL.
She later moved to Chicago, IL with college friends where she met her former husband, a chemist. They moved to Calgary, Alberta Canada to start the company Progressive Optical Research Ltd. After 25 years, Maureen returned to Maine where she was an Ed Tech for twelve years at Gray New Gloucester High School. Tiring of the snow, in 2017 Maureen retired and moved back to Florida where she happily settled in New Port Richey.
Maureen loved music and reading was a favorite hobby. She loved to go for lunches and treats with friends and family. One of the best things about her was her ability to give of herself…she was always there to give her time or be a voice of reason, she was there for her people to support in any way she could. She was strict, but she was fair and fun and loved to laugh. She was a creature of habit and a hard worker. She always wanted you to try your best to be your best. She was deeply loved, appreciated by many and will be tremendously missed.
She is survived by her adopted daughter Stephanie Lowery (Bobby) of New Port Richey,FL. Her siblings Darcel DeVou of Gray, ME; Trudy Rodney (Andrew) of Portland, ME; Eugenia “Jo” Brown (Lad) of Lisbon, ME; Heather Hynes (Patrick) of Durham, ME, Kim Fitzgerald (Johnny) of Punta Gorda, FL; Jodina Stafford (Jim) of New Port Richey, FL; Darcyne Studley of Brainerd, MN and Jon Studley of Islamorada, FL. Her adopted mother Margie Sherman (Ben) of Hooksett, NH; her many nieces and nephews, her beloved companion Chaucey, her lovely neighbors the Alamo Belles, as well as her many lifelong & close friends she met along the way.
She is preceded in death by her parents Eugenia McLaughlin (Graham) and James DeVou, sisters Sherry Carll (and Thomas), Shirley Therrien, Lenore McLaughlin and her beloved “fur-baby” schnauzers Moxy Boy and Pepe.
A celebration of life will be announced and held at a to be determined date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Maureen’s name to the SPCA and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
For over 60 years you have been a daughter and sister in my family and for over 40 years an aunt. Renie you are so loved and I am having a very hard time accepting that you are no longer with us.
Margie Sherman
April 5, 2025, 9:33 pm
In my broken heart 💔 I hope you are at peace and I know you would want all of your family to share all the memories of you and get through this difficult time together….one day at a time…I love ❤️ you so much and will miss you until we meet again…Marge your adoptive Mother big hugs xoxo
Judy perry
April 5, 2025, 9:55 pm
Dearest Renie…I have known and loved you since you became a part of the Studley family way back in the 1960’s. You came into their lives to help Margie by loving her kids and found yourself being loved by all of them. I have always been grateful to have been there and to have remained in everyone’s heart as a good yesteryear memory and a lifelong friend. Your sincere kindness and quiet love will stay with me forever. Well done Renie, we will ALL miss you (‘specially your little doggie Chaucy) Rest now💔judy
Elaine Collins
April 5, 2025, 9:56 pm
Aunt Margie, I’m truly sorry for your loss. To have a loved one taken away so quickly is hard to understand but know that she is at peace. She had a beautiful life and is smiling down upon you. I know your heart is broken and will take time to heal. God’s angels will help you as will all the beautiful memories you have.
Love, Laney
Elaine Collins
April 5, 2025, 11:54 pm
What a beautiful lady and what a beautiful legacy!! It’s hard losing some one you love but when it’s so sudden and you don’t get to say goodbye, that’s so heart wrenching.
God’s angels will guide you Aunt Margie, and help you heal.
Love, Laney
Anita B Salter
April 6, 2025, 5:01 pm
I only met Renie in 2022. She was always kind and accepting of everyone. She was a special lady and accepted me into her life as if she knew me for years. She will be missed dearly.
Margie and Stephanie, I know there is a hole in your hearts that will take time to heal. I will pray for God to help heal your hearts and make the pain a little easier as time goes by.
Stephanie Lowery
April 6, 2025, 9:15 pm
I am still in disbelief you’re gone. 💔
You were an incredible woman, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, an amazing “mother” to me and to your furbabies…you made all our lives better just by being there. You were loved and will be missed constantly. Your lessons will live on. You made a tremendous impact on many, I personally will carry so much that you’ve given to me help me to become & grow into the woman I am today. My boys and I will feel your loss always. I love you Aunt Renie and I miss you terribly.
May you rest in peace. 🕊️🥺
Kim Fitzgerald
April 9, 2025, 9:09 pm
It is hard to believe that you are really gone…
We love you very much and will miss you forever.
RIP my beautiful sister🪽💔
Anne Walker
April 18, 2025, 1:22 pm
A very dear former colleague and friend of ours has passed. Maureen was so generous and such a dedicated Ed Tech. She was an amazing soul and lived a spectacular life. She spent some time in my classroom over the years and always “did her homework” so she could be the greatest of helpers. After much convincing and a promise not to reveal her age if I were to discover it, (I never did know until this obituary), she let me interview her so I could I make a special display for our students. I will now search hard to find that again. I absolutely adored her! I had just thought of her a few weeks ago, and to learn yesterday that she’d died, made me pause. I truly wish I could have had even one more hour to talk with her. ❤️
Margie Sherman
April 5, 2025, 8:55 pm
For over 60 years you have been a daughter and sister in my family and for over 40 years an aunt. Renie you are so loved and I am having a very hard time accepting that you are no longer with us.
Margie Sherman
April 5, 2025, 9:33 pm
In my broken heart 💔 I hope you are at peace and I know you would want all of your family to share all the memories of you and get through this difficult time together….one day at a time…I love ❤️ you so much and will miss you until we meet again…Marge your adoptive Mother big hugs xoxo
Judy perry
April 5, 2025, 9:55 pm
Dearest Renie…I have known and loved you since you became a part of the Studley family way back in the 1960’s. You came into their lives to help Margie by loving her kids and found yourself being loved by all of them. I have always been grateful to have been there and to have remained in everyone’s heart as a good yesteryear memory and a lifelong friend. Your sincere kindness and quiet love will stay with me forever. Well done Renie, we will ALL miss you (‘specially your little doggie Chaucy) Rest now💔judy
Elaine Collins
April 5, 2025, 9:56 pm
Aunt Margie, I’m truly sorry for your loss. To have a loved one taken away so quickly is hard to understand but know that she is at peace. She had a beautiful life and is smiling down upon you. I know your heart is broken and will take time to heal. God’s angels will help you as will all the beautiful memories you have.
Love, Laney
Elaine Collins
April 5, 2025, 11:54 pm
What a beautiful lady and what a beautiful legacy!! It’s hard losing some one you love but when it’s so sudden and you don’t get to say goodbye, that’s so heart wrenching.
God’s angels will guide you Aunt Margie, and help you heal.
Love, Laney
Anita B Salter
April 6, 2025, 5:01 pm
I only met Renie in 2022. She was always kind and accepting of everyone. She was a special lady and accepted me into her life as if she knew me for years. She will be missed dearly.
Margie and Stephanie, I know there is a hole in your hearts that will take time to heal. I will pray for God to help heal your hearts and make the pain a little easier as time goes by.
Stephanie Lowery
April 6, 2025, 9:15 pm
I am still in disbelief you’re gone. 💔
You were an incredible woman, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, an amazing “mother” to me and to your furbabies…you made all our lives better just by being there. You were loved and will be missed constantly. Your lessons will live on. You made a tremendous impact on many, I personally will carry so much that you’ve given to me help me to become & grow into the woman I am today. My boys and I will feel your loss always. I love you Aunt Renie and I miss you terribly.
May you rest in peace. 🕊️🥺
Kim Fitzgerald
April 9, 2025, 9:09 pm
It is hard to believe that you are really gone…
We love you very much and will miss you forever.
RIP my beautiful sister🪽💔
Anne Walker
April 18, 2025, 1:22 pm
A very dear former colleague and friend of ours has passed. Maureen was so generous and such a dedicated Ed Tech. She was an amazing soul and lived a spectacular life. She spent some time in my classroom over the years and always “did her homework” so she could be the greatest of helpers. After much convincing and a promise not to reveal her age if I were to discover it, (I never did know until this obituary), she let me interview her so I could I make a special display for our students. I will now search hard to find that again. I absolutely adored her! I had just thought of her a few weeks ago, and to learn yesterday that she’d died, made me pause. I truly wish I could have had even one more hour to talk with her. ❤️