Maureen W. Abraham

Maureen W. Abraham, née Allen, passed away on March 8th at Harrington House in Walpole, Massachusetts. Maureen was born in New Delhi, India on August 3rd, 1939. The daughter of a copper wire factory owner, Alexander Lucas Allen Jr., and his wife, Nina Allen, née Rahmatmasih, Maureen attended boarding school in Simla,in the Himalayas, and Punjab University. Alexander was also a philanthropist in the Indian-Christian community, contributing to helping the less fortunate and helping to build a YMCA. Maureen's grandfather, Alexander Lucas Allen Sr., was Chief Chemist at Kola Gold Fields and served in both World Wars. After the passing of their mother, Maureen became a surrogate mother to her three younger siblings, Joan, Alexander (Alec) and Doris.

In 1963 Maureen moved to London, England to follow her dreams and ambitions. There, she married her childhood sweetheart, Alexander Matthew Abraham. The couple had one daughter, Karen Alexandra Meninno, née Abraham, who survives her. She is also survived by her sister, Doris Allen, of New Delhi, nieces Jacqueline Day, née Liddle, of Dallas, and Hazel Kumar, née Liddle, of Lausanne, Switzerland, grandnieces, Candace Day and Amelie Kumar, and grandnephew Kenneth Day.

Maureen worked as an accounting clerk for several companies in London, including Prime Computer, MGM Cinema, ABC Cinema and Virgin Cinema. She supported her family and, through hard work and perseverance, achieved her dream of buying her home in London. Maureen ensured Karen received a great education, at a time when immigrants were not welcome in London. She acted as Mother and Father to Karen, who went on to complete an IT degree, encouraged by Maureen's love and persistence.

Maureen's favorite activities were cooking and travel. She loved going for afternoon tea with friends and looked forward every year to watching the New Year's Day concert from Vienna. Maureen moved to Massachusetts in 2002 to join her daughter and son-in-law, Jim Meninno. Maureen loved New England, especially Cape Cod, and often said that the winters reminded her of the Austrian Alps, a favorite place of hers to visit. Maureen remained very British, but studied hard for her American citizenship and had a wonderful naturalization ceremony at Faneuil Hall, in Boston.

A memorial service will be held at Epiphany Episcopal Church, 62 Front St., Walpole, MA, on Saturday, March 11th at 4:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association.