Maureen A. Boyce
October 22, 1971 – November 26, 2025
An online memorial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for the TBI Support group with whom she had participated. Contributions can be sent to: Disability Network of Southwest Michigan, 517 E. Crosstown Parkway, Kalamazoo, with a notation “for the exclusive use of the TBI Support group.”
Obituary
Maureen Ann Boyce, a tender-hearted soul of 54, passed away on November 26, 2025. She left behind a family and a community who loved her deeply and will forever feel her absence. She was born October 22, 1971 in Escanaba, Michigan and always wanted everyone to know she was a Yooper. She loved visiting Escanaba and sailing on her uncle Stephen’s and uncle Robert’s sail boats, fishing, picnicking and visiting around different parts of the Upper Peninsula.
She attended Saint Monica‘s Catholic School and Hackett High School. She also attended Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Western Michigan University.
She was a mental health care provider and a visual artist. She began Mckercher Rehabilitation Center’s art program of providing for Members the opportunity to create art for sale. She helped every one appreciate their own abilities and importance.
As a visual artist she had been commissioned to do murals and shoot photographic sessions. She has exhibited some of her work in art shows.
She enjoyed board games and gardening. She loved to read, particularly mysteries. She would still stay up at night watching crime programs like 48 hours and Cold Case Files only later to be scared to turn off the light or TV and go to sleep.
She collected music and movies about which she was seriously knowledgeable.
She had many interests, which led to her becoming the curator of a wide variety of strange collections of oddities.
She is survived by her brothers Sean Hirsch of Kalamazoo Michigan, Andrew (Megan) Hirsch of Hermosa Beach California and their children Chloe, Jackson and Bennett. William (Natalie) Boyce of Escanaba, Michigan, Brandon (Jenalee) Boyce, Marlow (Ken) Schwalbach and their children Gavin, Madison, Alex, Jayce, Halleigh, Isaiah, Liam, Hendrick, Brayden and Bralee.
She also leaves behind her housemate, Ray Turner, her uncles and aunts Stephen (Toni) Buckbee, Robert (Patricia) Buckbee, Peter (Mary) Hirsch, Robert (Ellen) Hirsch, Judy (Bob) Johnson, Mary Sue (Jim) Trottier, along with her parents, Mary Buckbee Hirsch and Thomas John Hirsch.
She was proceeded in death by her father, William Boyce, her brother, David Hirsch, her two uncles, John Buckbee and John Hirsch as well as her grandparents, Francis and Mildred Boyce and Edward and Grace Buckbee with whom she shared a special relationship, holding them close to her heart throughout her life. Her cremains will come to rest alongside Edward’s and Grace’s in Escanaba during a private ceremony.
Maureen had a rare spark from the very beginning. She was a gifted artist whose creativity touched everything she worked on whether it was a painting, a handmade gift, or even a small doodle to brighten someone’s day. Her sense of humor was quick, bright and unforgettable; she had a remarkable ability to lift spirits and find joy in ordinary moments.
After suffering a traumatic brain injury she joined a TBI Support group. She served that group most recently as their vice president.
More than anything Maureen loved her family. She was a devoted, daughter, sister, niece, and friend. Always ready with support, kindness, and her unmistakable laugh. Her warm, genuine presence had a way of making people feel understood, valued and loved.
No matter where life took her, Maureen filled her years with meaning, creativity, and compassion. Those who knew her will continue to carry her light forward-in the stories they share, the art she created, and the memories that will forever remain.
Mo was a beautiful soul with a smile that brightened your day, I was lucky to have had the privilege of meeting, knowing and loving her, I met her when I was 15 because her long time Best Friend Amber Lawrence (My Aunt) had asked if I could help her friend move into her new apartment because she was short handed. Arriving to WMU campus housing I immediately asked my aunt who are we moving again? A college Student (me attempting to make a funny) we had kinda been introduced at first but since we were short on time we focused on the moving part some witty jokes back-and-forth and getting everything done with time to spare. She gave my aunt a big hug turned to me and gave me a hug and kissed my forehead saying “Thank you both very much” I’m pretty good with witty sometimes smart a** humor and she was as well I came to find out 🤣, she Said ” It’s very nice to meet you I like you and your personality, I’ll be able to pay you some money for helping” I told her ” Don’t worry about it you asked my Aunt for help, she asked me for help so technically she owes me not you” We all got a good laugh out of that and me being a smartA** Picked up a pair of really nice sunglasses said ” I’ll just hold onto these until set time auntie Amber has paid the help” both laughing she said Said “then I want you to have them” and when I said Nice sunglasses earlier it was an understatement, I was reluctant at first but she was persistent so I accepted them and still have them to this day, we had been like family ever since, I’m going to Miss her very much but not as much as my Aunt, R.I.H my friend Till We Meet Again😔❤️🌹
Maureen’s smile and voice were spectacular. Her humor was infectious and came easily. I miss her. Her art was from her heart with the ability to communicate. I loved her laugh! I loved her. She was Mo. She will always have my love.
Mo was such a character! I loved her sense of style and great sense of humor. I hypothesize that humor was always part of her personality, and that her brain injury just gave her license to let the jokes rip. At any rate, she kept us in stitches at the Brain Injury Survivors’ meetings and the joy she injected into our group was always appreciated. The wit! I really wanted to see her try her hand at stand up improv comedy. I think she would have been “absolutely fabulous dahling!” I told her I’d go take some workshops with her if she ever got the gumption…otherwise we’d just hit up an open mic sometime and I’d push her up there on stage because I believe she could light any room up with that fast tongue of hers. She and I bonded when I made (or maybe it was her?) a comment about something being “Absolutely FABulous dahhling!” To which we both said, “Oh my! But I just LOVED that show!” From then on, Mo said she was Patsy (platinum blonde), and I was Edina (redhead)…AKA “Trouble!” We had big plans to have an Absolutely Fabulous marathon and when the movie came out recently, we were going to go see it together after her surgery. I’d known Mo for over a year when she chose to share some of her photography with me. Wow! I had no idea she was so talented! I really appreciated her for being a bright light. She wasn’t afraid to tell you the truth. She faced her trials, troubles and tribulations head on. Dang girl! She had plenty of them. But she kept GOING. She kept being a warrior woman. She had PLANS too. I know she wanted to go see Europe. Find her own apartment. And sing more karaoke with good friends. Mo – you are sorely missed. Thanks for living your life to the hilt and sharing it with us. Thanks for keeping us smiling even while you were hurting. Thanks for being a fighter. Thanks for being an artist and creator who shared your eye and made the world a more beautiful place to be. Thanks for being a good friend. And for loving others so fiercely.