Maureen Cook

Maureen Anne Schram Cook, 64, passed away on March 26, 2011 after a long struggle with Lung Lupus. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 16, at St. James Basilica, Jamestown at 10 a.m. Burial will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery at a later date.

Cremation has taken place and no visitation will be held.

Maureen was born to William Thomas Schram and Marion Rose Doolin Schram on July 13, 1946 in Chicago, IL. She lived in Chicago in a section called “Back of the Yards” a richly ethnic area composed of Irish, Polish, German and Slavic immigrant families. She attended St. Bridgt’s Catholic School. In 1958 she moved to Berkeley, Illinois where she graduated from St. Domitilla School in Hillside, Illinois. She graduated from Proviso West High School in Hillside, Illinois and worked as a secretary employed at the Chicago Transit Authority. After a few years she returned to school and obtained her Associate of Science degree in Nursing from Triton College in River Grove, Illinois in 1971. She was employed at Loyola University Hospital in Maywood, IL; LaGrange Community Hospital, LaGrange, IL; and Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in Elmhurst, IL. During her nursing career she taught Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics and became certified as a Mobile Intensive Care Nurse and a Trauma Nurse Specialist.

Maureen married Roger Lee Cook in Glen Ellyn, IL on June 18, 1977 and welcomed a readymade family of three step daughters which she loved as her own.

In 1989 she retired and moved with her husband to a small farm in Cathay, ND. There she was busy with gardening, raising sheep, chickens, geese and ducks. The sheep were her favorite and she used her nursing knowledge, keen observational skills and maternal intuition to raise them, never losing one. She took up quilting in the winter and every member of her family has at least one hand made quilt to remember her by.

Having lived in the city, she appreciated the vast open areas of the plains and loved to watch the change of seasons, the skies, the sunsets, and the wildlife. Their home was always open to anyone who wanted to stop by for coffee and conversation.

At this time she returned to work at Carrington Hospital in Carrington, ND. Nine years later she began working for Wells County Public Heath in Fessenden, ND, doing home visits, immunizations and preparing presentations which she gave to the various community centers.

On January 1, 2007 she and Roger bought a home in Jamestown, ND, and in the spring moved from their beloved farm. In Jamestown, she became very active at the Stutsman County Museum and held a position on the board for several years. She also volunteered time at St. James Catholic Church. She was Red Hat Lady and enjoyed the club and their monthly adventures. She returned to nursing at Hi Acres Manor in Jamestown for two years until her health declined.

Maureen is survived by her husband Roger, two brothers, William Thomas Schram (Elizabeth) and John Martin Schram (Rita); three step-daughters, Lenora Andriacchi and friend Ronald Kowalski, WI; Yvonne (Donald) Raffety, KS; and Paula (Lee) Bizon, VT; six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and four nieces.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Stutsman Country Museum, 321 Third Ave SE, Jamestown, ND 58401 or The Basilica of St. James Catholic Church, 622 1st Ave S. Jamestown, ND 58401.

Go to www.bismarckfuneralhome.com to sign the online guestbook or to share memories with the family.

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