Maureen Francis Black

Maureen Francis Black loved running marathons almost as much as she loved eating chocolate. She was a forensic toxicologist who would drop anything to play on the floor with her grandkids. She was a devout Catholic who loved to talk, laugh and tell stories – tales from her childhood in Chicago, about getting in trouble for losing her glasses in a snowbank, about going to Catholic school with the nuns, about nearly choking to death on a ghost pepper, and about the scientific virtues of one tiny glass of merlot, and not a drop more.

She loved to talk about being a mom, about raising her two rambunctious, athletic sons and her smart, determined daughter. She also loved to talk about her lifelong courtship with Dwyane Black, the one with the red Corvette, the one with a twinkle in his eye and the brain of an engineer – the love of her life and husband of 61 years.

Dwayne and the family hold on to these memories and stories. Maureen passed away on March 8 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, a disease that slowly took away her memory as well as her ability to think and live.

A regarded toxicologist and trailblazer for women in science careers, Maureen passed away on International Women’s Day, with family by her side. As part of her work, she provided expert testimony in court trials about drug and alcohol interactions with the body, all while balancing life as a mom and, eventually, a grandma.

She was a grandma who always had time to play school, create news shows, play hide-and-seek and go swimming under the big blue sky. The grandkids remember her gigantic smile and amazing laugh, spending time at Dwayne and Maureen’s home in sunny Riverside, California, and later in Sun City, Georgetown, Texas.

In 2009, Dwayne and Maureen experienced the pain and fleeting nature of life when they endured the sudden loss of their youngest son, Kevin, from a bicycle accident. They also learned the importance of family and being together, and of keeping memories alive.

Maureen is survived by her husband Dwayne, her daughter Diane Hedger of Chandler, Arizona, and her son Bryan Black, of Austin, Texas. The family also includes son-in-law Peter Hedger, daughter-in-law Carrie Williams Black, plus 11 energetic, smart and beautiful grandchildren: Hart and Breck Black; Megan and Emily Black; Griffin, Tanner, Cooper and Brighton Hedger; and Parker, Yates and Levi Williams. Maureen is also survived by her sisters Fran Lugo of San Francisco, California, and Colleen Zaker of Washington.

Maureen was loved by so many. The family will be having services in April, as soon as her many grandchildren and other extended family can travel to be together in Texas.

A funeral mass will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, April 12, at Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church, 6751 FM 970, Andice, Texas. The family will host a Celebration of Life at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at The Oaks at Legacy Hills Golf Club, Sun City, 301 Del Webb Blvd., Georgetown, Texas.

Donations to the Alzheimer’s Association are welcome, as are traditional flowers for the service or celebration. Additional details, memories and an online guest book can be found at Maureen’s memorial site. [https://everloved.com/life-of…]

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/maureen-black/obituary/

Copy