Maureen Radish, age 61, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 2, 2023 at home with her husband and children after nearly a 5-year battle with metastatic breast cancer.
She was born October 8, 1961 in Madison, WI to Samuel and Jeanette (Grover) Gilberto. She was a 1979 graduate of Catholic Memorial High School (Waukesha). She graduated from Mount Mary College (Wauwatosa) in 1983 earning a BA-Communications degree and soon after worked for the Department of Defense Investigative Services in California as a Special Agent before returning to Wisconsin and marrying childhood friend James Radish in 1988.
Together they raised three children; as a stay-at-home mom she worked week nights and weekends for the family-owned grocery business, Sam’s Shop Rite (Big Bend) and Saturdays for the USPS (Muskego) as a mail carrier for about 10 years. She earned her second degree from Carrol University (Waukesha) in 2006 earning a BA – Education degree and worked for 13 years at St. Alphonsus Catholic Grade School (Greendale), as a middle school science, religion, literature, and language arts educator. She truly enjoyed teaching and did so with a reputable firm but fair approach. She earned the respect of her students and admiration of parents and peers alike. She regrettably retired in 2020 after her health required more attention. She was the extended family’s consoler and confidant.
She was an avid sport fan, enjoying professional football and baseball and college basketball. She was passionate about her faith, family, exercising and reading. Her most endearing quality, among many, was her genuine acceptance of people at face value, seeking their positive attributes and not being judgmental. She seemingly always did what was right and not what was convenient.
She is survived by her husband of 35 years, James, daughter Samantha (Andrew) Bergesen, son Alexander (Emma) Radish and daughter Abigail (Eric) Gumm, grandchildren Jack, Claire, Josie, Noah and Ava, mother Jeanette Gilberto, mother-in-law Janet Radish, siblings Mary (Joseph) Nelson, Michelle Gilberto, and Samuel (Sharon) Gilberto, brothers-in-law Matthew (Judith) Radish and Thomas (Kathryn) Radish as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by daughter Monica, father Samuel Gilberto and father-in-law Roland Radish.
Family, friends, and others whose lives Maureen touched are invited to attend services at Christ King Catholic Church, 2604 North Swan Boulevard, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on Wednesday April 12, 2023. Visitation begins at 9:30 AM, followed by Funeral Mass at 11:30 AM.
Sincere gratefulness to Dr. Cheng, Maressa S. PA and the entire Froedtert Cancer Center nursing staff for their relentless dedication to fighting cancer, extraordinary care and most of all providing hope.
In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Alphonsus Catholic Grade School would be most appreciated.