Maxine Joyce McManus

With regret we announce the passing of our dear aunt, Maxine J McManus. On March 8, 2024 she joined her parents, Lois and Ernest McManus in eternal rest. We gratefully celebrate the complex amazing lady she was, her well lived life and the abundant joy she brought us.
Maxine was the middle of five children: Bruce, Barbara, Elaine and Donald, her sole surviving sibling. She genuinely loved and supported them and their spouses: Carol, Stuart, Tom and Toni respectively; all have predeceased her. Her role as aunt was dearest to her heart and she delighted in 15 nieces and nephews, 35 great nieces and nephews and 28 "great greats"!!
After graduation from Pontiac Central High School Maxine was employed at the City of Pontiac in the tax assessor office, loyally serving for 37 years. It's rumored she knew every street and address in the city by heart! Maxine was forever commenting on how much she loved her job and the lifelong friendships it rendered. After retiring she was blessed with 40 years of retirement and divided her later years between the shores of Lake Orion and Florida.
Although quiet in nature and small in stature Maxine's spirit wasn't; she was fiercely independent, adventurous, fun loving and strong in faith and fortitude. She never preached her faith but lived it under the radar nourishing her soul in Bible studies and ladies groups which she held dear. Maxine highly valued her friends and family; she was generously "there" for so many of us over the years, most especially for her parents whom she steadfastly cared for until their passing.
Throughout Maxine's life she had many interests and never lost her zest for learning. She marveled at all of God's creation and man's inventive ingenuity, never losing interest in nature, science, history, art, music and especially the lives and well being of others. Maxine was an avid knitter; notoriously gifting over 75 customized Christmas stockings to family! Her traveling repertoire encompassed all 50 states and it was common to find her working diligently with tools on home improvement projects. In her eighties she decided to partition a wall and build a closet! Despite her age Maxine remained unusually active; she cherished time spent with friends and family, regularly frequented Florida theme parks, enjoyed gardening, crosswords, puzzles and even took horseback riding lessons!
It's hard to completely capture the essence of one we love and only God knows the breadth and depth of each life. Our sweet aunt chose to smile and not worry. She lived with a spirit of wisdom, conviction, generosity and quested for inner and outer peace. As we contemplate her life and commend her to God may we learn from her example and live with love, mercy and faith.