Mary Frances Maher
Mary Frances Maher
Mary Frances Maher of Sun City Center, Florida, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Feb. 6, 2026, at the age of 89 in Sun City Center. Born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, she was the daughter of the late Harry and Rena O’Neill and sister of her late brothers, Harry and John O’Neill. She was raised in North Smithfield, Rhode Island, and was a 1954 graduate of St. Clare High School in Woonsocket.
She was the beloved wife of the late Edward R. Maher, M.D., with whom she spent 22 years raising their family in Warwick, Rhode Island, before his passing.
Fran was the devoted mother of the late James H. Maher, D.C., O.M.D., and Maj. Joseph M. Maher. She is survived by her son, Edward R. Maher Jr., D.V.M., of Carlsbad, California, and her daughter, Michaela F. Maher of Newport, Rhode Island. She also leaves four grandchildren: Allison, Lauren, Caroline and JJ, four great-grandchildren: Sophie, Evie, Lorenzo and Diego and several nieces and nephews.
Fran became a member of the Kings Point Active Adult Community in Sun City Center in 1993, where she made many close friends over her 33 years of residence. She worked for more than a decade at the Rhode Island Blood Center and volunteered her free time as a docent at the Roger Williams Park Zoo.
Over the past 15 years, she served as a companion to residents at the Freedom Plaza Senior Assisted Living Community in Sun City Center. Fran was known for her faith, humor, smile, generous heart and ability to connect with people and uplift their spirits.
She cherished hosting social events — especially her traditional and legendary Christmas Eve gatherings — bringing friends and family closer together. She had a gift for leaving an impact on every person she met and will be dearly missed and joyfully remembered by everyone who knew her.
The family would like to thank the staff of Aston Gardens at the Courtyard, Plaza West Rehabilitation Center and LifePath Hospice House of Sun City Center for the compassionate care they provided over the past year.
A private celebration of life will be held in Rhode Island in late spring 2026.
Mary Frances Maher of Sun City Center, Florida, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Feb. 6, 2026, at the age of 89 in Sun City Center. Born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, she was the daughter of the late Harry and Rena O’Neill and sister of her late brothers, Harry and John O’Neill. She was raised in North Smithfield, Rhode Island, and was a 1954 graduate of St. Clare High School in Woonsocket.
She was the beloved wife of the late Edward R. Maher, M.D., with whom she spent 22 years raising their family in Warwick, Rhode Island, before his passing.
Fran was the devoted mother of the late James H. Maher, D.C., O.M.D., and Maj. Joseph M. Maher. She is survived by her son, Edward R. Maher Jr., D.V.M., of Carlsbad, California, and her daughter, Michaela F. Maher of Newport, Rhode Island. She also leaves four grandchildren: Allison, Lauren, Caroline and JJ, four great-grandchildren: Sophie, Evie, Lorenzo and Diego and several nieces and nephews.
Fran became a member of the Kings Point Active Adult Community in Sun City Center in 1993, where she made many close friends over her 33 years of residence. She worked for more than a decade at the Rhode Island Blood Center and volunteered her free time as a docent at the Roger Williams Park Zoo.
Over the past 15 years, she served as a companion to residents at the Freedom Plaza Senior Assisted Living Community in Sun City Center. Fran was known for her faith, humor, smile, generous heart and ability to connect with people and uplift their spirits.
She cherished hosting social events — especially her traditional and legendary Christmas Eve gatherings — bringing friends and family closer together. She had a gift for leaving an impact on every person she met and will be dearly missed and joyfully remembered by everyone who knew her.
The family would like to thank the staff of Aston Gardens at the Courtyard, Plaza West Rehabilitation Center and LifePath Hospice House of Sun City Center for the compassionate care they provided over the past year.
A private celebration of life will be held in Rhode Island in late spring 2026.