Obituary for Maureen C. Johnson (Burns)
Maureen (Burns) Cauley Johnson, aged 71, said her final prayers from earth on June 14, 2022 and went to the Lord. In Maureen’s last several years, she battled with Parkinson's disease and its complications.
Born to Kathleen (Reader) Burns and Paul Burns in 1950 in Wilmington, DE, Maureen was the oldest of 8 kids. Born literally as the leader of the pack, Maureen always had a mind for business. After several years serving as administrative assistant and personnel manager in local companies, she left to develop well-known Wilmington, Delaware company, Parcels, Inc. in the early 1980s with the love of her life, James (Jim) A. Johnson.
Maureen thought of and treated those at Parcels as family. As there are so many employees who had worked for Maureen and Jim for most of their adult lives, it showed that the love and family sentiment was certainly mutual.
If you read this and say, oh I think I knew her and are thinking of a nice, quiet, older lady- you definitely have the wrong person! When you met Maureen, she had an impact on you. She was an incredibly smart, beautiful and dynamic lady with a big smile and curly blond-red hair. If you recall a time in New Castle, where you found yourself staying many hours later at a house, laughing and talking after enjoying one of her stellar home cooked meals, or being a backup dancer for Maureen at a party where the Temptations belted out “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg;” or you were struggling, and had an honest conversation and were given a helping hand, then, yup, that’s Maureen! Maureen was kind, but honest and real. She was passionate and laughed and danced like no one was watching (when of course, everyone was!). In her more quiet times, she loved crossword puzzles, Agatha Christie novels, and she loved shows with happy endings. Neighbors in Penn Acres in New Castle saw and waved to Maureen on her daily several mile walk for many years. Maureen also loved the beach and spent many years traveling to and making friends in both Bermuda and Isle of Palms, SC.
She will be remembered for so many things - an incomparable cook and hostess; a tough, fair, and generous business owner; an honest and passionate friend, and a proud and loving mom, grandmother, and sister.
She began writing her own obituary before she died, and wanted it said that “Boy did she enjoy life!” Maureen also wrote that “she was crazy about her twins,” her only kids, Amy and Larry. They will miss her tremendously, but are at peace to know that she is free from the physical trappings of Parkinson’s and is surely with the Lord.
Maureen is survived by her husband of 37 years, her partner in life and business, James A. Johnson of New Castle, DE (formerly of Highmore, SD - or Wisconsin, if you’ve heard him sing the song!), and by her twins, Amy Kathleen Brown (née Cauley) (spouse, Matthew C. Brown) of Miami, FL and Larry Cauley of Henrico, VA. She is also survived by her 6 grandchildren, William, Jack, and Lauren Brown (Miami, FL); and Macon Davis, and Liam and Owen Cauley (Richmond, VA).
Predeceased by her parents and her brother Michael, Maureen is also survived by 5 brothers, Paul Burns, Nubia Burns (sp); Francis Burns; Pat Burns (Mary, sp.); Gene Burns (Alison, sp.); Jimmy Burns as well as the youngest of the 8 siblings, her sister, Suzanne Brady (sp. Mike); as well as many nieces and nephews, including Maureen’s and Jim’s goddaughters, Lindsey and Rachel Brady.
Maureen made it clear that she wanted a true Irish wake and friends and family to gather and celebrate life and remark “What a gal!” Relatives and friends are invited to attend visitation from 3pm-5pm, with a funeral service to follow at 5 p.m., on Saturday, June 18th at Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home at the Wilmington/Elsmere location, 1400 Kirkwood Hwy, Wilmington, DE 19805. There will be a private burial.
We would usually put “in lieu of flowers” here, but to be honest, Maureen always joked that she wanted big flowers; however, the family and Parcels are taking care of that! In all seriousness, friends are welcome to honor Maureen by making a tribute donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, whose research goals are to end Parkinson’s disease. www.michaeljfox.org
Born to Kathleen (Reader) Burns and Paul Burns in 1950 in Wilmington, DE, Maureen was the oldest of 8 kids. Born literally as the leader of the pack, Maureen always had a mind for business. After several years serving as administrative assistant and personnel manager in local companies, she left to develop well-known Wilmington, Delaware company, Parcels, Inc. in the early 1980s with the love of her life, James (Jim) A. Johnson.
Maureen thought of and treated those at Parcels as family. As there are so many employees who had worked for Maureen and Jim for most of their adult lives, it showed that the love and family sentiment was certainly mutual.
If you read this and say, oh I think I knew her and are thinking of a nice, quiet, older lady- you definitely have the wrong person! When you met Maureen, she had an impact on you. She was an incredibly smart, beautiful and dynamic lady with a big smile and curly blond-red hair. If you recall a time in New Castle, where you found yourself staying many hours later at a house, laughing and talking after enjoying one of her stellar home cooked meals, or being a backup dancer for Maureen at a party where the Temptations belted out “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg;” or you were struggling, and had an honest conversation and were given a helping hand, then, yup, that’s Maureen! Maureen was kind, but honest and real. She was passionate and laughed and danced like no one was watching (when of course, everyone was!). In her more quiet times, she loved crossword puzzles, Agatha Christie novels, and she loved shows with happy endings. Neighbors in Penn Acres in New Castle saw and waved to Maureen on her daily several mile walk for many years. Maureen also loved the beach and spent many years traveling to and making friends in both Bermuda and Isle of Palms, SC.
She will be remembered for so many things - an incomparable cook and hostess; a tough, fair, and generous business owner; an honest and passionate friend, and a proud and loving mom, grandmother, and sister.
She began writing her own obituary before she died, and wanted it said that “Boy did she enjoy life!” Maureen also wrote that “she was crazy about her twins,” her only kids, Amy and Larry. They will miss her tremendously, but are at peace to know that she is free from the physical trappings of Parkinson’s and is surely with the Lord.
Maureen is survived by her husband of 37 years, her partner in life and business, James A. Johnson of New Castle, DE (formerly of Highmore, SD - or Wisconsin, if you’ve heard him sing the song!), and by her twins, Amy Kathleen Brown (née Cauley) (spouse, Matthew C. Brown) of Miami, FL and Larry Cauley of Henrico, VA. She is also survived by her 6 grandchildren, William, Jack, and Lauren Brown (Miami, FL); and Macon Davis, and Liam and Owen Cauley (Richmond, VA).
Predeceased by her parents and her brother Michael, Maureen is also survived by 5 brothers, Paul Burns, Nubia Burns (sp); Francis Burns; Pat Burns (Mary, sp.); Gene Burns (Alison, sp.); Jimmy Burns as well as the youngest of the 8 siblings, her sister, Suzanne Brady (sp. Mike); as well as many nieces and nephews, including Maureen’s and Jim’s goddaughters, Lindsey and Rachel Brady.
Maureen made it clear that she wanted a true Irish wake and friends and family to gather and celebrate life and remark “What a gal!” Relatives and friends are invited to attend visitation from 3pm-5pm, with a funeral service to follow at 5 p.m., on Saturday, June 18th at Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home at the Wilmington/Elsmere location, 1400 Kirkwood Hwy, Wilmington, DE 19805. There will be a private burial.
We would usually put “in lieu of flowers” here, but to be honest, Maureen always joked that she wanted big flowers; however, the family and Parcels are taking care of that! In all seriousness, friends are welcome to honor Maureen by making a tribute donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, whose research goals are to end Parkinson’s disease. www.michaeljfox.org