“Larry and Maureen also asked me to offer their heartfelt thanks to everyone in the community who over the past year became part of Baby Maureen’s extended family. They asked me to particularly mention:

• The Handicap Children’s Treatment Center here in Somerville, who provided Maureen with wonderful care.

• The Doctors, caregivers and staff of the Somerset Medical Center and the Robert Wood Johnson Children’s Hospital who last week not only demonstrated their extraordinary skills in giving emergency care, but their compassion as human beings.

• To all of the friends and family of the Dryers who have given their time, attention and love to Baby Maureen and the family.

• Larry and Maureen also asked me to offer thanks to the Mighty Mo’s who will forever be remembered in the lore as the legendary softball team who participated in the 2004 annual Somerville Elks Jack’s Kids softball tournament. The guest of honor and recipient last years was our girl Baby Maureen.


The team included many of the people who are here today: Dan Locker, Bob Greenfield, Jimmy Hannan, Paul Thomas, Billy Cooper, Mike Vernoia, Billy Dwyer, John Kennedy & Tony Petto. I know I have missed a few.

We entered the tournament for our girl with a vision of not only raising some money, but perhaps gallantly winning a few games and maybe even the tournament. We took the field under the leadership of our skipper, Larry Dwyer, and the support of our wives and families, as well as our Little Mo.
The top of the first ended after about 90 minutes when our crack pitcher, Paul Thomas, was able to keep the ball in the park long enough for us to string together three outs. At that point, we all thanked God for our day jobs and took last place like real men! Obviously there were no steroid users on our team!

I know that all of us here in Church today and everyone who met Baby Maureen were touched and inspired by her in so many different ways. I believe that it is impossible to offer an appropriate eulogy that would eloquently capture the significant impact that she has had on so many lives in such a short period of time. I also know that this is a very difficult time to form a happy memory, but I would like to ask everyone to do what I have asked of myself when remembering this very special child. In the future, when you think of the little lady that we all affectionately called Baby Mo, please don’t remember that she died. Remember that she lived! And in the loving comfort of her wonderful parents, Maureen & Larry, her big brothers: Lawrence, Shawn, Stephen, and Patrick, as well as her big sister Casey…as well as all of her family and friends, not only did she live very well…she will continue to live on in all of us! And so Maureen, on behalf of everyone who you touched, please now watch over us and continue to inspire us…and until we meet again…Peace be with you!”