Maureen McMahon Godinho  (1936 - 1995)

Maureen (Mary Anne) McMahon Godinho was born on August 15, 1936 in Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan.  She was the oldest child to Nora and John McMahon.  Siblings Walter, Noel, Alice and Marcella followed.  In 1956 Maureen left Ireland and emigrated to the United States and began working as a secretary for an insurance company in Newark, NJ.  Never straying far from her Irish roots, Maureen found a second home in McGovern’s Tavern on New Street.  It was there that she met many of her lifelong friends, and most importantly, her future husband, Mike (Mario) Godinho.  Portugal-born Mike was a sheet metal worker at Newark Airport and often found himself in McGovern’s after work.  According to Bill Scully he must have made a positive impression on Frank McGovern as he was one of the few non Irish granted admission to the back room of McGovern’s where the beautiful Irish lass caught his eye

On November 9, 1963 Maureen and Mike were married at St Rose of Lima Church in Newark.  After honeymooning in the Poconos the two settled on Irving Street in the Newark’s North Ward.  In August of 1964 they welcomed their first daughter Kathleen.   Sisters Mary, Susan and Rose followed in 1966, 1968 and 1970.  In 1981 the family moved to Kearny. 

Though she married a Portuguese native, Maureen was determined that her daughters would all grow up appreciating their Irish heritage.  Luckily Mike agreed and also embraced Irish culture.    All four girls learned Irish step dancing at the Peter Smith School.  The family spent many hours travelling to feisenna throughout New York and New Jersey.

Maureen and Mike were very active in many Irish organizations, most prominently in the McGovern Association.  Maureen was their longtime secretary up until her death.  She was also an active member of the Cryan Association, Giblin Association, Independent Irish Society, Friends of Brian Boru, Nugent Association, Peter Smith Cultural Association, Women of Irish Heritage and the Pat McGarry Drake Civic Association.  Every Easter Sunday the entire family took part in the Easter Uprising Mass at St. Patrick’s Pro Cathedral, followed by a reception at McGovern’s.  They could also be found there on St. Patrick’s Day, with Mike bartending in the same back room where they met many years earlier and Maureen helping to serve corned beef sandwiches in the kitchen.  In 1991 Maureen was honored to be chosen as the Deputy Grand Marshal of the Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  This was a fitting honor to a woman that spent so much of her adult life promoting Irish culture to everyone.   

Maureen never forgot her family in Ireland and travelled back to her homeland as often as she could.  She loved to visit the family farm and reconnect with her mother, siblings and many nieces and nephews.  She loved to wander the hills and fields of Ireland.

Perhaps one of the greatest moments of Maureen’s life was the birth of her first grandchild, Sean on September of 1994 to Kathy and her husband Mike Blashe.  Unfortunately Maureen died suddenly from a brain aneurism on March 8, 1995.  While she didn’t live to see the marriage of Susan to Rich Swietkowski or Rose to Howie Cournoyer, or the births of her other six grandchildren- Maureen, Patrick and Aidan Blashe and Maggie, Ian and Danny Swietkowski, she is present in spirit.  All of her daughters and grandchildren have a deep appreciation of their Irish roots.