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NILES -- Our dear mother, Maureen Sheila Sullivan Malys, 88, passed away Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at St. Joseph Warren Hospital.
She was born Jan. 18, 1936, in Niles, the daughter of John A. Sullivan and Beatrice Brawdy Sullivan.
Maureen graduated from Mineral Ridge High School in 1953. She worked for Household Finance Corporation for a number of years, and after her marriage, was co-owner of the Warren Boat Shop and Roo-Dee's Drive-in in Cortland.
Maureen's quiet and reserved demeanor masked her adventurous spirit and determination. Upon first glance, you would never guess that she was a pipefitter-welder, a very non-traditional role for women at the time. She worked for Republic Steel and WCI for 22 years in Warren. She was in the first group of women hired at Republic Steel in the 1970s. In 1997, Maureen and her female colleagues were featured in The Warren Steelworker, a publication by the Local 1375 USWA, featuring "Women of Steel." Maureen encompassed the determination and fortitude to deal with a hard job while helping to pave a path for future women in the industry.
Along with being a business owner and a "woman of steel," her favorite job was being a mom to her four children. She had an adventurous spirit, purchasing an RV for camping and lake outings, and visited the area's amusement parks often. Before settling back in her hometown of Niles, she lived for years with family in the Virginia / Washington, D.C., region, driving her convertible VW Beetle around the area.
She enjoyed cooking (she made a mean mac-n-cheese), gardening, thrifting, bowling and trying her lady luck at the local casinos.
She will be missed immensely by her daughter, Michele Monroe (Donald) of Niles, with whom she made her home, Mark Malys (Tina) of Cortland, Melissa Persing (Dan) of Niles and Malinda Garris (Dennis) of Vienna, Virginia. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother, William Sullivan.
At her request, a private family service will be held at a later date.
"No language can express the power, and beauty, and heroism, and majesty of a mother's love," Edwin Hubbell Chapin.
Arrangements are entrusted to Staton-Borowski Funeral Home, 962 North Road NE, Warren, OH 44483, 330-394-6200. Dedicated to serving your loved ones. This obituary may be viewed and condolences sent to www.statonborowskifuneralhome.com.
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