02/04/2026
Today we pause together with heavy hearts to remember Maureen Worron-Sauvé, a woman whose presence shaped our community in ways that words can only begin to describe.
Those who worked alongside Maureen know well that she led by example, by persistence, by refusing to step aside when her presence could make a difference. Because she stayed, people felt less alone. Because she spoke, progress found a voice. Because she listened, others felt seen.
Diagnosed with scleroderma in 2002, Maureen transformed her lived experience into action almost immediately. She joined the Scleroderma Society of Ontario Board of Directors in 2003, eventually serving as Board President from 2007 until 2016. She went on to lead nationally as Board President of Scleroderma Canada from 2010 to 2016, helping guide the organization with clarity, empathy, and resolve. Right up until 2026, she continued to serve as Vice President of Advocacy, never stepping away from the work she believed so deeply in.
Maureen’s impact went far beyond titles. She was a deeply respected patient research partner. Internationally, she was recognized as a leader who helped ensure research was done with patients, not just about them.
What many of us will remember most isn’t only what Maureen accomplished, it’s how she made us feel. She made space. She made room. She reminded us, patients, caregivers, researchers, and advocates alike, that compassion and grit can coexist, and that progress is strongest when it is shared.
Maureen leaves behind a legacy that will endure long after us. She leaves a community more connected, a path forward more clearly marked, and a standard of advocacy rooted in courage, kindness, and unwavering purpose.
We mourn her deeply. We are grateful beyond measure. And we carry her spirit forward in the work she loved and the community she helped build.
With love, respect, and remembrance,
Scleroderma Canada & The Scleroderma Society of Ontario
We encourage you to visit Maureen's memorial page and to share your Maureen story on the memory wall.
https://ow.ly/GuUi50Y91h0