Maxine Louise Manz (nee. Miller)
She was born to parents James Gemmel Miller & Lexie May (nee Maxwell) on July 3, 1946 in Barrhead Alberta.
She worked alongside her parents, and older brother Stewart, on the family farm on Mosside Corner and was surrounded by a large loving family. She left school early (never finishing high school), but went on to attend Marvel Beauty School and became a licensed beautician. However her career was cut short by family life.
On Jan 17, 1970 she married Jim Manz in Barrhead and raised their 4 children, Tammy, Tracey, Jamie and Bonnie on a 20 acre farm pursuing their dream. During those years she kept herself busy cutting hair for neighbours, gardening, canning, sewing, selling eggs, milking cows, and taking care of their many farm animals.
She loved the farm-life, but evenings and weekends were meant for visiting friends and family. Her and Jim could often be found roaming the countryside to have coffee and play cards with their many friends.
She decided later to take up upholstery, and her skills allowed to recover almost anything that was brought to her.
She transitioned into retirement slowly, taking on fewer upholstery projects as arthritis took its toll and made caring for the farm more difficult. She finally made the decision to move into Barrhead in July 2019, but insisted that her beloved sewing machine come with her.
Maxine’s last years were much quieter filled with many coffee dates, volunteering at the Seniors home, and keeping busy helping out at The Shop. Following the loss of her mom (Lexie), Jim, one of her dear friends, and her brother in short amount of time was very tough on her. In the years that followed she also dealt with a multitude of health issues, but it never dampened her kind and fiery spirit. She was one tough cookie!
She will be missed dearly her many, many friends and family. She is survived by her children, Tammy (John) Pattyson, Tracey (Jill) Kelly, Jamie (Sherry) Manz, and Bonnie (Harold) Pulleyblank.
Her grandchildren Tristin (Frank) Nyitrai, Kelsey (Morgan) Schmidt, Johnathan (Christen) Pattyson, Dana Gross, Jenna (Thomas) Listhaeghe, Morgan Manz, Riley Manz, Chase Pulleyblank, Stephen Pulleyblank, and Kirstin Pulleyblank.
Her cherished great-grandchildren Blake, Ellie, Paige, Piper, Chaseton, Addison, Maxwell, Jack, Anastasia, Teagan, Emerson, Brixton & Vander.
Maxine was predeceased by her loving parents, James and Lexie Miller, her husband, James Manz and brother, Stewart Miller.
We would like to send our heartfelt thank you to those who supported her with such wonderful care:
Dr. DeWaal, Dr. Visser, Dr. Aboudaya, Dr Bernes, The Cross Cancer clinic, The Barrhead Emergency Care department and all of the nurses as well as her many close friends and neighbors.
A celebration of life will be held on Monday April 21st at 3PM at the Barrhead Senior Drop-in Center.
The family is requesting, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Cross Cancer Institute or the Barrhead Alberta Rescue Society (BARS).
