Maxene Elizabeth Gaffner Boland

Born on May 18, 1941, in Knoxville, Tennessee, to Walter Goodman, Sr. and Annie B. Brown, Maxene pursued her passion for music and learning, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Michigan and a Master of Arts in Education from Michigan State University.

Maxene dedicated her professional career to shaping young minds and hearts as an elementary school teacher at Cornell Elementary. After retiring, she and her husband, Kenneth Boland, followed their calling to serve as missionaries in Thailand. There, they found a home at Grace International School, where they poured love and guidance into their students and colleagues for 10 years as educators and administrators.

Upon returning to the United States, Maxene embraced new passions, including Pilates, and continued her lifelong devotion to teaching and serving through her local church. Her generous spirit, unwavering faith, and kindness touched countless lives.

Maxene is survived by her son, Ian Gaffner; daughter, Anjanette (Joel) Pykkonen; brother, Clyde Arnold Sr.; sister, Consuelo (George) Marshall; and her cherished grandchildren, Tyler and Kelsey Pykkonen.

A memorial service celebrating Maxene’s life will be held on July 12 at 1:00 p.m. at The Way Church in Woodstock. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Never Alone Food Pantry in Woodstock, honoring Maxene’s enduring commitment to caring for others.