Maxine Lillian Young

Maxine Lillian (LeDuc) Young

Rochester/Lee, NH — Maxine Lillian (LeDuc) Young passed away on her 90th birthday, February 4, 2022, at home surrounded by many of those who love her.

Mom promised us she would live to her 90th birthday, 2/4/22, and not a day later! She fought every day to reach that milestone, even though she weighed 50-something-pounds. She had a stroke earlier this week, so we did what we have always done. We got our loud, happy, loving, dysfunctional family together. We bought balloons, flowers, and a birthday cake, and we celebrated mom's birthday…on 2/1/22, 3 days early. Hoping to convince this beautiful, strong woman that she made it to 90, and it was okay for her to let go. But in true Maxine fashion, she would do things on her terms. There is some peace in knowing that she set out and accomplished, leaving us on her terms.

Maxine was born in a snowstorm on 2/4/32 in Pittsfield NH, to Edward and Aldora (Chagnon) LeDuc. She attended school in the Pittsfield, NH school system, and hated every minute of it. She loved her childhood on the Pittsfield farm with her parents, sister and three brothers.

She told many stories of growing up during the depression, but not noticing a difference as they grew up poor, but they didn't know that.

Mom loved picking the fresh mountain blueberries, playing with the farm kittens, and spending time with her siblings.

A favorite story she told was the year each child's one Christmas gift from the Sears catalog, wouldn't arrive in time. Dreading giving the news to the children, their parents told the kids their gift was to do whatever they could dream up on that Christmas day. Remembering the naughty joy that shined in her eyes as she talked of all the running, jumping, etc. they did on that Christmas day, will help sustain us through our loss. Her words to her mother that night "That was so damn fun!"

Mom loved gardening, flowers, animals, antiquing, hitting up all yard sales, playing cards: cribbage was her game, cooking and taking care of her family.

She met the one and only love of her life, John Malcolm Young, at the Roseland Ballroom at age 24. They married 4 months later and went on to fill up the homestead in Northwood, NH with 7 children.

A part of mom passed on 11/22/97 when she lost the only man she would ever love. We know that she is with dad again and that her heart is finally in one piece and full. Maxine is survived by her children: Tammy, Lillian (& Andy), John, Christy, Amy (& Troy) and April (& Patrick). Adored and missed by her grandchildren: Cody, Jonathon & Lyon, Matthew & Meagan, Moriah, Megan, Richard, Bradley, Ashley, Noah, Paige, Cassidy and Jolee. Great-grandchildren Melanie, Aurora, Calan, Mali, Liam, Fitz, Olivia, Bruce, Logan, Cecelia, Ella and Evelyn, and many nieces and nephews. Her best friend and sister, Joan Gooding, and her other best friend an sister-in-law, Elizabeth Geers. Maxine was pre-deceased by her loving husband, John, a daughter Andrea and a daughter-in-law Carol, a grandson Thomas, her parents, her brothers, four nephews, some dear brothers and sisters-in-law and many dear friends.

A special thank you must be shared for the years of wonderful, tender care, endless time and love poured onto mom by Lillian, Jonathon and Lyon. If not for them, we would have lost mom years ago. She knew all that you did for her, and she was proud and happy to be with you.

Mom, I think you said it best when you said, "That was so damn fun!" Thank you for giving us all that you had. Every fiber of your being until there was nothing more you could give. Rest now. Visit us from time to time. We will miss your earthly presence.

Per Maxine's request, there will be no calling hours or funeral service.

Please bake some cookies for a friend, plant some flowers (especially daffodils), or hold a baby with love, in her memory.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to either the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association or the Home Hospice company nearest your heart.