Edith Louise Maxant

Edith Louise Maxant August 12, 1944 - July 24, 2008 Ayer On August 12th 1944, a daughter, Edith Louise Maxant was born to Capt. Richard C. Maxant and Harriett (Henn) Maxant. After taking her to several specialists, they followed the best advice, "Just take her home and love her." So, Edith Maxant became one of the few Down Syndrome babies to grow up at home and one of the even fewer children that became part of the community. Her Mom, Harriett, also became an advocate for children with disabilities. She took Edith to parents of special needs children and encouraged them to let their children live at home and be active in the community. Edith had all the opportunities to do everything a "normal" child could do. She took swimming lessons at Sandy Pond and eventually overcame her fear of deep water and would swim across the pond and back! Edith took ballet, tap and baton twirling lessons from Mrs. Desmond, participating in the recitals and never missing a step. Edith was upset that her younger sibling got to go to school because it was "My Turn!" after her older sibling started school. Ayer had no special needs classes, so her Mother found Rollstone School in Fitchburg and drove her over every morning and picked her up every afternoon. The teachers at Rollstone School all loved Edith. She organized the kids on the playground and taught them how to swing a jump rope, how to play hopscotch and other games which she had played at home with her friends and siblings. Harriett soon discovered Edith could take the train to Fitchburg every morning. The conductors all watched out for her and loved her cheerful personality. A taxi picked her up at the train station and took her to school and Harriett picked her up in the afternoon. When Ayer started its special education classes at Page-Hilltop, Edith was one of the first students. Edith had an infectious personality and a beautiful smile. She always loved everyone, she seldom forgot a name or face. She did not take offense when people shied away from her, but tried to win them over with her gracious comments and sweet personality. Even as a child she did not let unkind remarks faze her. She would say, "It's OK, they don't know better." As programs for the handicapped grew, Edith grew right along with them. She loved to jitterbug and wanted to attend every single sock hop put on by the Association of Retarded Citizens, (ARC). She also loved to bowl and her Mom would take her every week to bowling at Mason's bowling alley in Fitchburg. Edith participated in the Special Olympics and won medals in both bowling and swimming. She would walk downtown Ayer to show her medals to everyone. Edith was a member of the Federated Church and attended Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She had perfect attendance medals for almost every year. Edith learned how to read and write and was never as happy as when reading her Bible. She often attended the services at other churches when people were willing to give her rides. One of Edith's friends said Edith cheered her up every time she saw her. Edith would say, "Jesus loves me" and "I just love Him so much." Edith showed her the constancy of God's love. Everyone who knew Edith was touched by her life. She taught people how normal it is to love and interact with others regardless of handicaps. Edith stayed young, and as her playmates outgrew playing with her, she took to riding her bike and walking around town. People in Ayer grew accustomed to seeing her and would often offer her a ride home. People learned that Edith was just...Edithand they accepted her for herself; a loving, kind, gracious person who would not forget you and who would always try to help others. Edith leaves behind: her brother, Frank Maxant, and her sister, Ruth Maxant-Schulz, both of Ayer; niece, Diana Simon of Bethesda MD and her two boys, Jeremy and Gabriel; niece, Christina Andres of McKinney Tx;, her daughter, Payten; niece, Amanda Schulz of Ayer; nephews, Curtis Schulz of Ayer, and David Schulz of Columbus Ohio; and many cousins. Maxant A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday August 24 at 4 p.m. at the federated Church of Ayer, Washington St. Ayer, MA with K William Wood officiating assisted by Rev. Stephen Nyakairu. Donations can be made to: the ARC, (Fitchburg); the Special Olympics; or the Gideons. See www.badgerfuneral.com