Maxine Anne Howarth

She was born on December 4, 1928 in Fort William, ON. She was raised in Blackhawk, ON attending the Blackhawk School before graduating from Fort Frances High School. Maxine attended Teachers College in North Bay; teaching at Robert Moore School for 8 years. She left teaching to raise her family but often spoke of her teaching years with pride and joy. Past students often greeted her and reminisced about her being their favourite teacher. In 1951 she and Murray built a cabin in Bear Pass on Little Doukhobor Island, her happiest times were here. Weekends at the cabin were filled with family, guests, laughter, swimming and good times. Maxine was always a gracious hostess and therefore acquired the title “the hostess with the mostest”, the occasional rum and pepsi were also poured. Many life long friends were made on Rainy Lake and anyone who landed on the beach has fond memories.

She joined her husband, Murray, as a partner in Howarth’s Home Furnishing and after his sudden passing in 1979, she continued running the business with Mark until her retirement in 1991. She was a very successful business woman having won many awards from Radio Shack and Panasonic over the years.

In retirement she loved to travel and always enjoyed activities with her grandchildren, cheering on log rolling, hockey, gymnastics, soccer, dance and wakeboarding. Maxine enjoyed sports and fitness and continued curling and aerobics classes well into her 80’s.

She carries on to meet again with her husband Murray Howarth; parents Geraldine (Beninger) and Wesley Thompson; her brother Joseph Thompson; mother and father-in-law Zelma and Cecil Howarth as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Those special people she leaves behind to carry on her legacy of strength, generosity and optimism are her son Monty (Jackie) and their son Joey (Tanya and their son Collin); son Mark (Twyla and their children Scott and Jill); daughter Cindy (Willy and their children Carson, Emma and Aaron) Cole and close friends Maureen and Owen Ross as well as numerous cousins.

Cremation has taken place and a private family interment will be held in Riverview Cemetery in Fort Frances, ON at a later date.

The family gratefully requests that in memoriam donations may be made to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 29, 250 Church Street, Fort Frances, ON, P9A 1C8 or the Halkirk Fire Team, RR#3 Site 300-17, Fort Frances, ON, P9A 0A1 or Riverside Health Care Foundation, 110 Victoria Avenue, Fort Frances, ON, P9A 2B7.

Online condolences may be made in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com.