Irene Maxwell Obituary

Age 101 years, died October 8, 2010, at the Spring Lake Village Skilled Nursing Facility. A native of Santa Rosa, Mrs. Maxwell was born March 8, 1909, to Herbert J. Waters and Jessie Irene Waters. Mr. Waters was a reporter and then an editor of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Mrs. Maxwell graduated from Santa Rosa High School in 1925, from Santa Rosa Junior College in 1927, and the University of California, Berkeley, in 1930. In Santa Fe, NM she met her husband, W. Carter Maxwell, and they married in 1934. After several years of living in Geological Survey camps and Civilian Conservation Corps camps which Mr. Maxwell led while employed by what is now the United States Bureau of Land Management, the couple lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico before they settled in Santa Rosa in 1947. Mrs. Maxwell supported organizations such as the YMCA and the NAACP, served as PTA President at Kawana Terrace School, was instrumental in establishing a Family Services agency in Santa Rosa, and was on the committee which brought the Spring Lake Village Retirement Center to Santa Rosa. Mrs. Maxwell was one of the "pioneer" residents at Spring Lake Village. A lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Rosa, Mrs. Maxwell, in addition to being a leader in the Sunday School and the Presbyterian Women's Association, was one of the church's first women Elders. Mrs. Maxwell was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and four younger brothers, Herbert J. Waters, Jr., Minor Waters, Frances Waters, and Paul Waters. She is survived by her daughters, Martha Maxwell of Boulder, Colorado; Cynthia West (Robert) of San Bruno, California; and Sara Slyker of Santa Rosa; as well as five grandchildren, Scott Slyker, Steven Slyker, Andrew West, Laura West, Deborah West Pelletier; and eight great grandchildren. Mrs. Maxwell willed her body to the UCSF Medical School. A Memorial Service will be held on November 6th at 2:00 p.m. at the Spring Lake Village Chapel, 5555 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa. In lieu of flowers donations in her memory may be made to the Santa Rosa High School Foundation, P.O. Box 11002, Santa Rosa, CA 95406; the First Presbyterian Church Preschool, 1550 Pacific Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95404; or The Darby Betts and Friends Assistance Fund at Spring Lake Village, 5555 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95409. Family assisted by: DANIELS CHAPEL OF THE ROSES FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICES, 525-3730

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Published by Press Democrat from Oct. 13 to Oct. 14, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Irene Maxwell

3 Entries

Karen Olson Tognotti

November 4, 2010

My father’s family, the L.C. Olsons, (L. C..,Martha, his wife, the children ,Earle, Vivian, Loretta, and Joyce,) moved to Santa Rosa from Donaldson Minn. In 1919. They attended the Presbyterian Church and became friends with the Waters family. The children were all in Chistian Endeaver. After marrying the couples remained friends and the Mitches, the Cambys, the Sheltons , the Olsons and the Maxwels celebrated New Years Eve together for many years.
Dad loved to tell how Irene broke his rib by poking him, when they were much younger.
Irene remained a dear friend to them, and later to me. I will miss seeing her smiling face.

Mariel Johnson

October 13, 2010

Martha, Cynthia and Sarah - First of all, the passing of your mom is like losing the final link to my mom. As you know, she had been my mom's best friend since they were 10 years old. Your mom was truly an amazing lady. I would stop by to see her once in awhile and I would think to myself that I'd better only stay about 20 minutes or so as I didn't want to tire her out, but about an hour later she could still be going strong! She was always so cheerful, alert and interested in what was going on in my family. If anybody led a full, rich, life, it was Irene. She was also blessed to enjoy a generation of great grandchildren. Your mom was like a magnate as far as attracting friends of all ages. She will be truly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Oh, her sense of humor was another great trait - even my husband commented on that when he visited with me. I will certainly miss Irene but so happy for her that she lived such a full, abundunt life.
Love, Mariel

October 13, 2010

Martha, Cynthia & Sarah, you know how much I admired your Mom. She was thoughtful, a unique human being and a wonderful role model. She wrote me so many letters over the years. They are the kind of letters you had to keep because they were full of wonderful stories about the family and her interesting take on things. I cherished her friendship and support. My thoughts are with you. Sally Weeks Gard

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