Maura A. Jones

Maura Ann Jones (Lamb), age 93, passed away peacefully on October 26, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. She will be remembered for her boundless love, kindness, and grace. Maura treated everyone with empathy and respect, approaching life’s challenges and opportunities with courage, humor, and wisdom. She shared these qualities generously with her children, grandchildren, and friends of all ages, all of whom adored her.

Maura was born on July 15, 1931, in Devils Lake, North Dakota, and grew up in Crary and Fargo with her twin sisters (born on Maura’s first birthday) and two brothers. She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Fargo and Moorhead State Teacher’s College (returning later in life to earn her BA). After earning her teaching degree, she taught elementary school for two years before meeting her future husband, Paul. Paul fell in love with Maura at first sight after seeing a newspaper photo of her teaching in her classroom. He proposed on their fourth date, and they were married for 55 years, raising six children together.

Maura’s advocacy work began early, inspired by the experiences of her eldest son, Tom, who had developmental disabilities. Witnessing the mistreatment of people with disabilities firsthand, Maura became a tireless advocate for change. As a citizen advocate and later as the Executive Director of the Association of Retarded Citizens, she helped expose the inhumane conditions at North Dakota’s state mental institutions. This led to a successful class action lawsuit, won in 1982, to improve conditions and standards of care for people with developmental disabilities. She then played an instrumental role over the next several years to implement the lawsuit’s provisions in new legislation and regulatory requirements.

In 1968, Maura’s resilience and dedication were called upon when her son Matt was critically injured in a gun accident. After his months long hospital stay, Maura converted the family dining room into a makeshift hospital room, where she devoted herself to his recovery day and night. She nurtured the same dedication to care in all her relationships, and her compassion knew no bounds.

A lifelong learner, Maura was captivated by the beauty and mystery of the world around her. She nurtured her passion for discovery, studying a wide array of subjects—from spirituality and philosophy to art, anthropology, politics, quantum physics, astronomy, and homeopathic medicine. She found meaning in the endless interconnectedness of life and believed that everyone carried their own innate form of wisdom.

Maura’s commitment to justice, fairness, and respect for all was unwavering. Whether advocating in anti-ballistic missile protests, alternative education models, or feminist causes, she fought for what she believed was right. Even when disagreements arose, people always respected her for her integrity, passion, and dedication to the greater good.

Maura was deeply loved by all who knew her, and she will be remembered as a person who saw the good in everyone. Her ability to make people feel seen and valued was one of her many gifts. She laughed easily, loved a good story, and had an uncanny ability to connect with others.

Her philosophy in life was simple but profound: “I did the best I could with the information I had, at the time I did it.”

Maura is survived by her children: Daniel (Julia), Margaret (Jeff Risberg), Paula (Pete Johnson), and Patrick (Jen); grandchildren: Paloma, Cecelia (John), Dustin (Natalie), Danielle (Spencer), Erica (Aamon), Patrick (Sarah), Ian (Sawyer), Joey, Zack, and Logan; 14 great grandchildren, and her sister and dear friend, Monica Kuklenski. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul; sons Tom and Matt; her parents, Michael and Esther Lamb; as well as her siblings: Jude, Miriam, and Michael.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks for the gentle and loving care provided by House Calls and Hospice of the Red River Valley, as well as the Our Lady of Peace home hospice team in St. Paul.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Hospice of the Red River Valley, or Our Lady of Peace Hospice in St. Paul.

A celebration of Maura will be held on Saturday, January 4th at 2:00 PM at Boulger Funeral Home in Fargo. Please visit the online guestbook to share memories and condolences.