Maureen A. Michael, of Orlando, FL, passed peacefully on July 14, 2021 at home with family beside her. Born Wednesday, June 16, 1943 in Oak Park, Illinois to Edward and Elaine Carmody. She was the 2nd oldest of 5 and quickly became the caring family big sister that would take her to her lifelong profession of nursing. She graduated from Oak Park Hospital School of Nursing, Summa Cum Laude in 1964. While in nursing school, on a blind date she met her husband, Norman T. Michael, from Boone, NC. They were married on August 14, 1965.
They moved to Tallahassee, FL in 1967, where she quickly advanced to head nurse of pediatrics at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. She and Norman had their only child, Dawn (Michael) Olivardia. Maureen worked nights and Norman worked days alternating the care of their daughter. They settled in Orlando in 1972, where Maureen started working for Orange Memorial (now Orlando Regional Medical Center), first as an ICU nurse and then in their dialysis unit. Recognizing her passion for her dialysis patients, she was asked in 1979 to become the Executive Director/CEO of the Central Florida Kidney Center, where she stayed until her retirement in December of 2010, growing it to 5 centers in central Florida.
While working as the CEO, Maureen went to night/weekend school to obtain her BSN from Florida Southern College, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1982. She continued her education at Rollins College, obtaining her MBA in 1987. She also became a state and nationally recognized advocate for dialysis care and served as President of the Florida Renal Administrators Association from 1984 to 1986 and President of the National Renal Administrators Association from 1988 to 1989. She was a guest speaker for many dialysis conferences throughout the 90's and 00's and an author of various articles published in dialysis and nephrology magazines.
After the passing of her beloved husband, Norm, in 1991, she traveled the world with her friends and family. She especially loved going on cruises and foreign tours. She met the new love of her life while on one of these trips to the Holy Land. She and James E. Kinney married on August 7, 2009 in his hometown of Auburn, NY. She loved being a part of Jim's large loving family. The two were very much in love always holding hands. Even in her days with Alzheimer's Jim could always make her smile. Jim peacefully entered into his eternal life on January 19, 2021 after a courageous battle with COVID.
Before Alzheimer's, Maureen loved being Nana to her two granddaughters, Nina and Grace. She enjoyed taking Dawn and the girls on cruises, trips to North Carolina, weekends at Disney, and going to UCF football games. She spoiled them throughout their childhood and was a wonderful example on how to juggle being a success professionally and being a loving mother and grandmother.
Maureen is survived by her daughter, Dawn Olivardia and her husband Arthur Bergen; her granddaughters Nina and Grace Olivardia; her sisters Pat Cottler (husband David Cottler); Joan Micklitsch (husband William Micklitsch); brother-in-laws David Michael (wife Carol Michael) and Robert May; nieces - Michelle May, Tanya Micklitsch (her son Dylan); nephews – EJ Carmody, Spencer Micklitsch (wife Amy and children Caley and Carter). She is also survived by her expanded family with Jim including Jim's children: Lucinda Towle (husband James), Elisabeth Kinney, Maureen Angotti (Scott), Michael Kinney (Greta Smoinisky) ; grandchildren Maria Towle, Deborah (Ben) Gray, Daniel (Krysta Rehrig) Angotti, Julia Angotti, Margaret Angotti, Joseph Angotti, Peter Angotti, David Angotti, Malachy Kinney, and Myles Kinney.
She is predeceased by her parents, Edward and Elaine Carmody, her brother Edward Carmody, Jr.; sister Jeanne May and husbands Norman T. Michael and James E. Kinney.
We would especially like to thank her personal caregiver and angel on earth Sammy for her wonderful compassionate love and care of Maureen for the last 5 years.
Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 22, 2021 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 5900 Oleander Dr, Orlando, FL 32807, with burial following at Greenwood Cemetery, 1603 Greenwood Street Orlando.