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“I don't judge Homer or Marge. That's for vengeful God to do.” ―Maude Flanders[src] “Neddy doesn't believe in insurance. He considers it a form of gambling.” ―Maude Flanders[src] In many ways, Maude Flanders was a supporting player in our lives. She didn't grab our attention with memorable catchphrases, or comical accents. But, whether you noticed her or not, Maude was always there ... and we thought she always would be.” ―Reverend Timothy Lovejoy at Maude's funeral[src] “Excuse me, Edna. I don't think we're talking about love here. We're talking about S-E-X in front of the C-H-I-L-D-R-E-N.” ―Maude Flanders[src]

was the first wife of Ned Flanders and the late mother of Todd and Rod Flanders.

Maude was a devout Christian who once attended a Bible camp to learn how to be more judgmental, although she wasn’t as preachy as her husband. She campaigned strongly against Itchy and Scratchy with Marge and was often partnered with Helen Lovejoy as they protest against the "evils" in Springfield. She died after being struck by a barrage of shirts fired from t-shirt cannons at the Springfield Speedway in "Alone Again, Natura-Diddily".

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Biography

Although she spent much of her free time in prayer and reading the Bible, Maude was known to let her hair (and her neckline) down for the occasional dinner party at the home of the Simpsons (Maude's neighbors).

Homer Simpson and Moe Szyslak both found her attractive that Moe made anonymous phone calls to her and Homer once ogled Maude's low-cut dress at a dinner party, which ended up with him and Marge Simpson going to marriage camp [1].

Maude liked ficus plants, unflavored nonfat ice milk and Newsweek Magazine. In one episode, when Marge was arrested for accidental shoplifting, Maude was one of the people who missed Marge’s treats during a bake sale.

After her death, Marge was mildly surprised and concerned to discover Maude's three pairs of shoes as she believes this to have been a fetish. [2]

Death

“I know, they make you uncomfortable.” ―Maude Flanders's last words[src]

In 2000, "Alone Again, Natura-Diddily", Maude died after being knocked off a grandstand by several t-shirt cannons at the Springfield Speedway. The shirts had been meant to hit Homer, who wanted one of them. However, before the shirts could hit him, Homer noticed a bobby pin on the ground and bent over to pick it up. This caused Maude, who was returning to her seat behind Homer, to be struck instead, and fall off the grandstand to her death, at least a 20-foot drop. According to Homer's statement later in the episode, he had parked in the ambulance zone, which prevented any quick resuscitation.[3]

Her death crushed Ned and their sons, Todd and Rod, who, although used to some measure of hardship (their house getting destroyed[4]) assumed they would always be together (The actual reason her character was killed off was due to a pay dispute between the actress who voiced her character and the show's producers).

Apparently, Homer fell in her grave, which Ned mentioned [5]. Reverend Lovejoy eulogized her as follows: "In many ways, Maude Flanders was a supporting player in our lives. She didn't grab our attention with memorable catchphrases, or comical accents. But, whether you noticed her or not, Maude was always there ... and we thought she always would be." [6] Though the episode aired in February 2000, the events appeared to take place before the winter meaning that the events probably took place before Winter 1999 and 2000.

After her death, the grieving Ned Flanders and the Simpsons saw in her sketchbook a series of drawings that outlined a plan for a Christian-themed amusement park named "Praiseland." Realizing this park to be her final dream, Ned acquired the defunct amusement park "Storytime Village" from Colonel Antoine "Tex" O'Hara ("The Rich Texan") and, with the assistance of Homer and other townspeople, built and opened Praiseland. He memorialized Maude there with a statue of her, and placed on its base a plaque bearing the phrase: "She taught us the joy of shame and the shame of joy."

Praiseland sold Maude memorial items such as masks. Praiseland gained popularity among the residents of Springfield when they erroneously attributed to the statue of Maude the performance of miracles providing religious experiences. The religious experiences were actually hallucinations, caused by gas that was leaking from a gas line near the base of the statue (it was revealed that Springfield natural gas was actually deadlier and more poisonous in area with good ventilation). Feeling that profiting off the memory of his dead wife was wrong, and even more so after the candles near the gas leak nearly caused an explosion, Ned closed down Praiseland [7].

Post Death Appearances in the Simpsons

Friends

She was often seen with Helen Lovejoy, with whom she would protest against the evils of Springfield. After her death in Season 11, Helen is often seen with Luann Van Houten and Bernice Hibbert.

Appearances

Note: Maude is mainly a background character, episodes in which she has a speaking role are in bold.

Gallery

The full image gallery for Maude Flanders may be viewed at Maude Flanders/Gallery.