Maxine "Max" Moczygemba Slyman

We are saddened to announce that the world has lost a great source of humor, positivity, and determination. Maxine M. “Max” Slyman, age 75, died after a long struggle with respiratory disease on January 17, 2025, at a San Antonio Specialty Hospital.

Max was born on her mother’s 22nd. birthday, October 4th, 1949, to Lottie L. Kowalik and Benedict I. Moczygemba in Karnes City, Texas. This was not far from the Kowalik family farm that was in Panna Maria, the site of the oldest Polish settlement in the US and the farm became part of the uranium mines that fueled the cold war.

Max’s first ten years of education were provided by the nuns at St. Gerard Church and School. She soon learned to charm the tough sisters with her knowledge and became an example student with extra privileges. She graduated from Highlands High School in 1968, with honors, the summer of Hemis Fair’68. That was a very good time to be a young adult in San Antonio.

Maxine, the cartoon character, was a huge favorite of hers, and could have been modeled after "our Maxine". Her sarcastic and snarky wit would often break up somber moods at just the right time to help others move ahead. Unlike the character, she always wanted to help others and nursing was the field she felt she could do the most good in. She volunteered and worked at Santa Rosa Hospital while completing courses at San Antonio College, graduated and got her RN license in 1970. She worked at The Nix Hospital, V.A. Hospital, Nurse Finders and Visiting Nurses Association into the 1980s. Max met and was pursued by a cute Postal Carrier named Dave who rode his motorcycle when the weather was good but had a new Thunderbird for wet or cold weather. That balance of daring with the practical in Dave really fit Max and she fell deeply in love. They were married in San Antonio, November 22, 1975, and started their 43 years of fun together. During that time she also learned cancer care when her father, Ben, became ill and died in 1976. The couple had four years to enjoy being each other’s sole focus before Kim arrived, followed by Jason three years later. The kids meant the world to them both and the family took many trips together to the beach, one of Max’s favorite places to take a book.

Briefly, she stayed home to nurture her children and created an in-home daycare. She then took our wonderul step-dad, Bud, to appointments with Dr. Stephen Cohen for cancer treatment. Her knowledge and wacky humor caused Dr. Cohen to offer her a job as his chemo administration nurse. The staff and patients at his practice were like family and those 27 years were the happiest and most rewarding of her nursing career. Max's humor and positive attitude helped people through the difficult treatments and times until her retirement. After retiring, she and Jason focused on caring for Dave. When David passed away in 2019, she turned her grief into a way to help others, by becoming a valued assistant to the leader of several Porter Loring Grief Groups. Her wit often beat out the grief in those sessions.

Although she loved attending Broadway plays, gardening, and playing with her dog, Sweet-Pea, Max’s favorite role was a parent and grandparent. She treasured her time with her only granddaughter, Brooklyn and adored being her Grannie. She loved sending videos of various critters sneaking into her yard to Brooklyn.

Maxine was preceded in death by her devoted husband, David Slyman; mother, Lottie Moczygemba Southard; stepdad, Bud Southard; father, Ben Moczygemba, and numerous aunts and uncles and cousins.

She is survived by her daughter, Kimberly Slyman Loner and husband, Jason Loner of Cypress, Texas; her son, Jason D. Slyman of San Antonio; brother, Ronald E. Moczygemba and his husband, J. Mike F. Moczygemba of San Antonio; numerous cousins, friends, patients, doctors, fellow nurses, neighbors, and many good people.

As Maxine’s lung disease progressed these last years, she required a wheelchair and numerous doctor visits, tests, hospitalizations and additional care. Her son, Jason made it his life to provide whatever she asked for as he did for his father years earlier and her brother, Ron, did the same when Jason was at work. Their attentive love eased her discomfort.

We know she would want to recognize the high levels of professionalism at Methodist Hospitals and The PAM Specialty Hospital 1604, for her final care. But now, we can see Max on the back of Dave’s motorcycle, tooling around heaven with an arm around him, her other hand holding her hair, and big smiles on both of them.

Max will always be remembered for her humor and sarcasm and the way that she was always learning; she always wanted to know more and see more. We couldn’t have asked for a better sister, mother, and grandmother, and will miss her every day. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved her.

Burial at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, February 20, 2025, at 10:15am, shelter #2.

Donations to Animal Rescues or a Charity of your choice in Maxine’s name would be greatly appreciated.