In Memory of

Margaret

O’Rourke

Meehan

Life Story for Margaret O’Rourke Meehan

Margaret O’Rourke Meehan born September 8, 1938 in New York City, daughter of John J. Meehan and Eileen Andrews Meehan, previously deceased, died peacefully on September 23 at New York University Hospital as a result of a recent illness. She is survived by sisters, Eileen Patrick, Berlin, Maryland; Sheila Meehan (Eric Draper), Tallahassee, Florida; Christine Meehan, Ellijay, Georgia, and brother Kevin Meehan (Ana), Wellington, Florida; cousin Ann May (Richard), Manhasset, New York. She was much loved and admired by numerous nieces and nephews, and was in turn loving and supportive, inspiring her nieces with her determined self-reliance.

Margaret attended St. Agnes Academic High School in College Park, New York before her family moved to Florida where she graduated from Palm Beach High School. She earned a B.A. in English from the University of Florida and two Master’s degrees from Hunter College, as well as an Advanced Certificate in Educational Supervision and Administration. She was an accomplished educator teaching English in Florida and New York City public schools before serving as assistant principal of Automotive High School in Brooklyn, New York.

Beyond her professional life Margaret was devoted to the poor and social justice. For many years and especially following retirement from New York City Schools, she served as a Maryknoll Affiliate Missionary with the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. She brought her teaching and organizational skills to Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Nepal. In addition, she was responsible for screening and interviewing new volunteers for the program. She also served an AIDS clinic in Uganda in 2002 and created an organization that provided financial assistance to the clinic for many years. More recently she volunteered in the evenings teaching English to recent immigrants in New York City. Margaret was very active with Call To Action, the Catholic Church justice movement that provides local responses to church injustice and she served as vice-president of the Metro New York Chapter.

Many people counted Margaret as a friend and mentor. Her acts of selfless service touched many lives. She engaged friends and family alike with great intelligence and interest in both world affairs and individual well-being. She will be remembered for always being generous and supportive. She will be terribly missed by the people whose lives she touched and will be mourned as the best sister, cousin and aunt.

A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 27 at St. Francis Xavier Church, 46 W. 16th St, New York, NY followed by interment at St. John’s Cemetery, Queens, NY. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Maryknoll, P.O. Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302 or Call to Action, Metro New York Chapter, 421 Eighth Avenue, P.O. Box 829, New York, N.Y. 10116.