Maureen Elizabeth Oppel, 79,

Maureen Elizabeth Oppel, 79, passed away peacefully July 29, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, and grandmother, and a wonderful friend to many. She had a kind and generous heart and donated to many charities regularly. Maureen was born in Irvington, New Jersey, Dec. 13, 1944, to parents Paul and Esther Weil. 

Preceding her in death were her parents, and her brothers, Michael Weil, James (Rita) Weil, and Robert (Rosemary) Weil.  

Surviving her are her husband, Thomas E. Oppel of Bigfork; her sons, Thomas John Oppel, of Hofgeismar-North Hessen, Germany; Todd Paul (Amy) Oppel, of Bigfork; Glenn Thomas (Courtney) Oppel, of Helena; Brian Everett Oppel (Laura O’Connell) of Kenmore, Washington; and Lee Anthony Oppel of Kalispell; her grandchildren, Ashley Lynne, of Corvallis; Devin Thomas, of Bigfork; Ethan Christopher, of Helena; Madeleine Elizabeth of Helena; and Gavin Everett Austin, of Kenmore; her great-grandsons, Noah Todd, Alijah Jordan, Malachi William and Isaiah Everett Alexander, of Corvallis; and many nieces and nephews.  

Maureen graduated from Archbishop Walsh High School in Irvington. She also attended the Barbizon School for Modeling. She and Tom met in early 1965 and had a wonderful courtship, and were married Aug. 20, 1966, in a nuptial mass at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Irvington. They were married for 58 years. They moved to Montana, from Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, in 1988. After raising their five sons, Maureen began a career as a legal assistant. She retired from the law firm of Hash, O’Brien, Biby & Murray in 2012, after working there for 22 years. 

She was a devout Catholic, never voluntarily missed a Sunday mass and faithfully followed all of the church’s traditions and sacraments. She raised their sons in the Catholic Church as well. God and family were the most important things to her.  

She was an avid reader and was extremely intelligent. She enjoyed playing cards and various games with her family, and she usually won and was very competitive! She also enjoyed collecting dolls and decorating her home with a beautiful array of blue-and-white china. She loved music and dancing, and her favorite band was ZZ Top.

Maureen always went out of her way to make every holiday, birthday, and various other occasions special. She chose and wrapped every single gift carefully and beautifully and kept a meticulously updated calendar to remember everyone’s birthdays and anniversaries. She made every family member feel special and loved, always preparing their favorite meal and baking a cake of their choosing for their birthday. She would get out her finest teacups for special events. Maureen was an exceptional cook and loved nothing more than gathering her large family to share one of her delicious meals, and then spend hours around the table afterward recalling favorite memories. 

Services will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 5, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home, 525 South Main St., Kalispell. The funeral mass will begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6, at Pope John Paul II Catholic Church, 195 Coverdell Rd., Bigfork, with a reception to follow. From 10-10:45 a.m., the casket will be open at the church for those who wish to pay their respects. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.