Obituary of Maureen R. Grooms

Maureen R. Grooms, devoted wife, mother and grandmother, passed away quietly, in the presence of her loving family, on October 6, 2016. She was born in Syracuse, NY to Charles J. Reschke and Mildred Hogan Reschke. Maureen was a Registered Nurse and worked at a number of health-related facilities over the years, including Upstate Medical Center (University Hospital), the Poison Control Center of Central New York, Adecco Health Services and United Health Care. She was a school nurse in the Syracuse City School District for a number of years and also served as a Nursing Instructor at Central Technical Vocational Center from 1982 until 1993. Maureen graduated from Assumption Academy in Syracuse and from St. Joseph's School of Nursing in Yonkers, NY. She also attended LeMoyne College, the State University of New York and the Utica-Rome Institute of Technology. Except for a short stint in Buffalo, Maureen resided in Syracuse for her entire life. She was an active volunteer and was both a Girl Scout Leader and a Cub Scout Leader. Maureen also volunteered for Meals on Wheels, Sara House, and with various school and youth sports programs. Maureen was married to her husband, Thomas J. Grooms, for 51 years. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother, Robert, and her sister-in-law, Patricia Reschke. She is survived by her husband, Thomas, and her six children and their spouses: Thomas, Jr. (Eileen), Brian (Susan), Sean (Kelly), Kevin (Sara Russell), Brendan (Stacy) and Erin (Christopher Clayton). Maureen is also survived by her thirteen grandchildren: Liam, Kyle, Brody, Kaley, Kyra, Connor, Michael, William, Jack, Griffin, Riley, Mila and Aidan. She is also survived by her brother, Charles, and by brothers and sisters-in-laws: Cynthia Reschke, James and Ellen Grooms, and Anthony and Sharon Caezza. Beyond that, Maureen is survived by a number of aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews, as well as a large number of friends, including her special friends: Mary Ellen McDonald and Janet Ethen. Maureen was a longtime communicant of Most Holy Rosary Church in Syracuse. She enjoyed watching movies, S.U. basketball and going on summer vacations on Fourth Lake in the Adirondacks. Maureen was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in early 2009. She lived at home under the care of her husband for almost five years and, finally, in 2013, she entered a long-term care facility. Maureen resided at The Cunningham at Loretto at the time of her death. The family would like to especially thank the staff on the second floor of The Heritage at Loretto and the eleventh floor of The Cunningham at Loretto for their kindness and dedicated care during Maureen's stays at those facilities. Maureen's greatest treasures were her children and her grandchildren. This is summarized in a framed poem which she kept on the counter for a great many years. The poem read: "You can use most any measure when speaking of success, you can measure it in fancy home, expensive car or dress, but the measure of your real success is one you cannot spend, it's the way your child describes you when speaking to a friend." A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10am at Most Holy Rosary Church, 111 Roberts Avenue, Syracuse, NY on Monday, October 10, 2016. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, October 9, 2016 at Most Holy Rosary Church from 2-5pm. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery in Dewitt, NY. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a contribution be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Central New York Chapter; 441 W. Kirkpatrick Street, Syracuse, NY 13204.