Maureen Kelly Barker

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Maureen Kelly Barker. Maureen unexpectedly passed on the evening of May 15th, 2026 surrounded with love.

Maureen Kelly Barker, the eldest daughter of John Fleming Kelly and Flaminia (Nina) Elaine Odescalchi was a proud Denver native and fifth generation Coloradoan. Maureen grew up attending St. Johns Catholic School (now Good Shepherd) where she remained active in the parish. Maureen attended Kent Denver School for Girls (class of 1974). Many of Maureen’s friends that she cherished to this day were made while at Kent. After high school, she studied at Smith College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art History, Criticism, and Conservation and graduated with honors in 1978. After college, Maureen returned to Denver where she immediately established roots within the community, starting her career as a banker along with devoting her time and energy to causes she held dear to her heart.

Maureen began her banking career as a Junior Broker with Smith Barney. She then progressed into larger banking roles at Colorado National Bank, where was smitten by another young banker from New Jersey named John Barker Jr. Throughout her banking career, she held senior roles at Wells Fargo and UMB Bank before serving most recently as Executive Vice President of Treasury Management at Citywide Banks. Known by colleagues as a creative and strategic leader who led through collaboration and never lost sight of the people behind the work, she was widely regarded as energetic, resourceful, and exceptionally skilled at building relationships. After Maureen’s banking career, she pursued her love of the culinary arts and received a culinary degree and started her own catering company called “You, Me and Mo.”

Maureen’s large heart and love for others shone through out the years as she volunteered and served on non-profit boards throughout her life. She started her passion of giving back by joing the board of the Denver Dumb Friends League where she put her love of animals into action and helped grow the organization’s scope into caring for and finding homes for rescue animals across Denver. Although there have been innumerable boards and organizations Mo has served throughout her life, four have stood out over the years as defining achievements. Maureen took on countless leadership roles within the Denver Lodo Rotary Club where she championed dozens of projects but was most proud of the work her club did with IPODERAC, a home for children in Puebla Mexico. Additionally, she loved person-to-person connection that Rotary fostered such as youth camps, and youth international exchanges.

In 2009, Maureen was invited to join the board of trustees for Regis University which, according to her family, has been the pinnacle of her non-profit career and devotion to service. Although the role Maureen played within the Regis community can never truly be summed, nor the Impact Regis had in her life, below are a few quotes and statements from the university’s press release in regards to her passing.

“In the Jesuit tradition, we speak often of women and men for others. Maureen Barker lived those words. She gave her time, her talent and her wisdom, to this institution without pretension or fanfare, simply faithfully, year after year.” - The Rev. Thomas Curran , S.J., Jesuit Superior and member of the Regis University Board of Trustees, in regards to Maureen

“As a trustee, Barker was known for her careful stewardship and her genuine investment in the Regis community. Colleagues remember her as someone who cared about Regis not as an institution on a balance sheet but, but as a living community of students, faculty, and staff shaped by the grace and rigor of Ignatian values.” - Regis University Press Release May 19, 2026.

“Maureen had a gift for making everyone around her feel seen and valued, whether it was a fellow trustee, a student, or a member of the staff. Her generosity of spirit will be deeply missed by all of us who had the privilege of working alongside her.” -Jacquie Box, Vice Chair of Regis Board of Trustees, as quoted in the Regis University press release.

Maureen was moved by the Ignatian spirituality the university fostered in everyone. Her work on the board inspired her to dive deeper into her catholic faith and truly embrace the mission of the Jesuits which she then shared and fostered within her family.

Although Regis truly captivated Maureen’s heart, she felt called to continue in her spirit of service by devoting time to other causes. She has served on the board of the Central City Opera and looked forward to re-joining the board. Her work with Central City carried on the family legacy paved by her parents and carried out through her family with her daughter being presented as a Flower Girl in 2012. Maureen looked forward to her family’s involvement with Central City Opera to continue for generations to come. One of her favorite memories and traditions is to gather for a family picnic at the Central City cemetery before the annual “Flaminia Odescalchi Matinee for Children” held in her mother’s name each summer.

One final highlight of Maureen’s devotion to giving back is her recent involvement with La Escuela De Guadalupe. Ls Escuela De Guadalupe is a Denver school started by the Jesuits priest and a Sister of Loretto Nun who saw a generation of Latino children in the Denver community losing hope in the future. La Escuela provides a bi-lingual elementary education for underserved Denver Latino families. Maureen’s face would often light up as she would tell stories of her interactions with the children at the school.

Maureen is preceded in death by her Mother Flaminia Elaine Odescalchi and Father John Fleming Kelly. She is survived by husband John Barker Jr, son John Kelly Barker, daughter Bridget Lauren Barker, and two adorable granddaughters Olivia and Peyton Orozco. She is also survived by her siblings, Johana Elizabeth Kelly, Alinka Flaminia, and John Fleming Kelly Jr.

Maureen’s family were the guiding stars she navigated life by but two stars shined the brightest. Her granddaughters, Olivia and Peyton held the most special place in her heart. She adored Olivia and Peyton and cherished “Mo-Mo” time as the girls affectionately called it. She took pride in being their “Mo-Mo” and fulfilling her grandmotherly obligation of spoiling the girls.

In sharing her passing, her love for her friends was made evident as long distance and age-old friends often remarked how Mo would always reach out to them just to visit and continue to remark how they just recently had the nicest visit with her. Maureen’s many loves throughout her life included skiing, white-water rafting, tending her beautiful garden, hosting parties for her friends and family, attending the opera, and most famously her award-winning culinary skills. Maureen truly lived each day for the greater good of her community and friends along with inspiring and energizing all who interacted with her.

In lieu of flowers please consider making donations in Maureen’s honor to the following.

Regis University

https://www.regis.edu/give-to-regis/

Central City Opera

https://centralcityopera.org/donate-now/

La Escuela De Guadalupe

https://events.handbid.com/lp/escuela-de-guadalupe-general-support/donations

Humane Colorado, formerly known as Dumb Friends League

https://donate.humanecolorado.org/campaign/700718/donate