Obituary of Carlene Maher

Carlene Maher, 86, passed on to the Lord on August 29, 2023. She is survived by Philip, her loving husband of 55 years, and JoAnna Kathleen (Kate) and Christopher Edward (Chris), her loving children whom she was very proud of, as well as beloved grandsons John Maher and Kyle Johnson.

Carlene was born on June 11, 1937, to Carl and Thelma (Hall) Yowell and grew up in San Luis Obispo, California. She was a true California beach girl and spent many afternoons propped “against the wall” at Avila Beach, doing her homework in the company of the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean. She graduated from San Luis Obispo High School in 1955 and was a member of the first graduating co-ed class at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1959.

Carlene began her career as an elementary school teacher in California before joining the Department of Defense Overseas School System, teaching on U.S. military bases in Turkey and Germany. While teaching in Augsburg, Germany, she met the love of her life, Phil Maher, and the two were married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Red Oak, Iowa, on August 19, 1968. After returning to the States, Carlene and Phil settled in Castle Rock, Colorado, to build a life and raise a family. Carlene was a devoted wife and mother and shared her love of books and the natural world with Kate and Chris, who also inherited her sense of adventure and the twinkle in her eyes.

In Castle Rock, Carlene taught first and third grades at South Street Elementary for the remainder of her career. “Mrs. Maher” touched many lives during her tenure at South Street and fostered a love of learning in the countless kids who landed in her classroom over the years. In fact, it was very common that she would be stopped in town by former students who wanted to reminisce with Mrs. Maher and receive one of her signature hugs.

Carlene enjoyed traveling and she visited every state in the U.S. and every continent in the world. After Carlene and Phil retired from teaching, they continued their travels for many years.

Per her wishes, there will be no service. Her family will inter her ashes in San Luis Obispo with her parents.

Carlene loved all animals, but had a particular fondness for dogs and cats, and donations may be made to the Denver Dumb Friends League in her honor using this link: https://ddfl.rallyup.com/carlenemaher/Campaign/Details

Carlene’s favorite prayer was the St. Francis Prayer for Peace, and she embodied love, understanding, hope, light and joy. We know she will continue to shine her giving spirit on all those she loved in her eternal life.

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not

Seek to be consoled as to console;

To be understood, as to understand;

To be loved as to love;

For it is giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.