Maureen Whittinghill O'Connell

St. Petersburg - Maureen Whittinghill O'Connell, 74, passed away May 3, 2015. She was born May 1, 1941 in Sidney, Montana, to the late Charles and Loyola McDonald Whittinghill, and lived in Colorado, California, Hawaii, Germany, Taiwan, and many of the mid-Atlantic states during her life. Maureen was a fiercely loving mother and wife and a generous human being. A nurse in early adulthood, she went on to work in many different fields. She had a curious mind and adventurous spirit, reflected in pursuits such as writing, omnivorous reading, bird-watching, mystery-solving, and travel. Her independence and moxie were palpable, and she loved to have long, animated conversations on any topic. Maureen is survived by her husband, John M. O'Connell; children Megan, of Chapel Hill, NC; Justin, of Charleston, SC; Brendan, of Denver, CO; and Caryn, of Chicago, IL; sons-in-law Greg Hanson, of Chapel Hill, NC, and Nate Florin of Chicago, IL, and daughter-in-law Lora, of Denver, CO; sister Colleen Mallet-Prevost, of Potomac, MD; brother Michael, of La Selva Beach, CA; sister Kathleen, of Rhode Island; and nieces, nephews, and cousins. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Action on Smoking and Health (ash.org).