Maureen Crisman

December 18, 1949 – October 19, 2026

Maureen (Horgan) Crisman, 76, of Crystal River, Florida, passed away peacefully at home on October 19, 2026. A spirited, warmhearted woman with a radiant smile, beautiful blue eyes, and a gift for making friends wherever she went, Maureen lived a life filled with love, laughter, adventure, and deep connections to the people around her.

Born on December 18, 1949, in Torrington, Connecticut, Maureen was the daughter of Michael Horgan and Betty (Foster) Allard. She grew up in Torrington and spent many years in Terryville, Connecticut, where she raised her two daughters. After a brief time in New Britain, she moved to Florida to care for her mother, living first in Clearwater and eventually settling in Crystal River. She took to Florida life immediately, loving the sunshine, the beaches, the water, and especially the birds.

Maureen held several very different jobs over the years. She started out as a hairdresser, then worked as a caregiver for adults with intellectual disabilities and later as a certified nursing assistant. But the biggest change came when she and her husband, Donald Crisman, took to the road as long-haul truck drivers. Together, they traveled all 48 contiguous states before eventually settling into routes along the eastern half of the country. Along the way, they made friends everywhere, many of whom her daughters knew only by their CB radio handles.

Maureen and Don shared 35 years of marriage and were true partners in every sense of the word. They were a team in every sense, whether they were crossing the country in their truck or spending a quiet day at home. Don had a wonderful sense of humor, and Maureen loved nothing more than laughing with him. She often said she could put up with just about anything because Don could always make her laugh. Their close and loving partnership was one of the great joys of her life.

Maureen genuinely loved people. She could strike up a conversation with just about anyone, and it wasn’t unusual for a quick chat to turn into a lasting friendship. She built a close circle of friends and neighbors in Crystal River, many of whom became like family. When her daughters were teenagers, their friends affectionately called her "Ma," and the nickname suited her. She had a way of making people feel at home, and she was always ready to offer kindness, affection, or a listening ear to anyone who needed one.

To her daughters, Maureen was their rock, their greatest cheerleader, and their constant source of love and emotional support. She was the first call when something wonderful happened, when something went wrong, or when they simply needed to talk. She listened, encouraged, worried, celebrated, and always made sure they knew she was on their side. That steady presence in their lives, and the comfort of knowing she was always there for them, is what her daughters will miss the most.

Maureen had a lively spirit, a quick smile, a joyful laugh, and, on occasion, a quick temper that was all part of her unmistakable personality. She enjoyed gardening, dancing, crafting, and bowling in her younger years. Later in life, she found happiness in the simple pleasures of her Crystal River home: relaxing by the pool, spending time on the lanai, welcoming guests, watching “Bones,” and befriending the egrets, cranes, and other Florida birds that visited her yard. Maureen had a few favorite expressions that her family will always remember. She often said that "Things happen for a reason," and when she was pleased about something, her response was a cheerful, "Good deal!"

Dogs were another constant in Maureen’s life. She loved them dearly and treated them like family. Over the years, her companions included Armani, Finn, Presley, Todd, Bonnie, and Jake. Some traveled the country with her and Don, while others kept her company at home. She leaves behind her much-loved long-haired Chihuahua, Lily.

Maureen is survived by her daughters, Jessica Thomas of Crystal River, Florida, and Megan Margraff and her husband, Michael Tscherwinski, of Trumbull, Connecticut; her four grandsons, Latrell Margraff of Westerly, Rhode Island, Elliot and Gabriel Margraff of Trumbull, Connecticut, and Ethan Thomas-Cianciolo of Cheshire, Connecticut; and her step-granddaughter, Rachel Tscherwinski of Sherman Oaks, California.

She is also survived by her siblings, Kathleen Sutton-Brown of Inglis, Florida, and Michael Horgan of Bantam, Connecticut. She will also be fondly remembered as Auntie and “Ol’ Auntie” by her many nieces and nephews and their families.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Donald Crisman, and her mother, Betty Allard, with whom she shared a particularly close bond.

The family will gather for a private celebration of Maureen's life at her Crystal River home in November, followed by a celebration in Trumbull, Connecticut, after the New Year. Details will be shared with family and friends as arrangements are finalized.

Maureen leaves behind a lifetime of friendships, countless stories, and a family who always knew how much she loved them. She will be remembered for her generosity, her warmth, her spirited personality, and the way she welcomed people into her life.