Maxine Chadwick

Our dear mother, Maxine Lucille Groscost Chadwick, passed away peacefully at home in Middlebury Center, Pennsylvania on December 30, 2025. She was 96 years old.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1929, she lived in many different homes and towns, even before her 1948 Bogota High School graduation. Maxine would move and start again many times throughout her life. She could always make a place feel like home-whether enjoying the dry California desert, the peacefulness of her pond in Oregon, the exceptional weather of her favorite Mission Viejo, or finally the beauty of the woods in northern Pennsylvania.

Maxine dreamed of being an actress in college. Her pursuits led her to sing with the NJ All State Chorus, and also at the Metropolitan Opera performing Tannhauser. When she fell in love with her high school crush, our dad Roger, she chose family over career. They married at 22 and welcomed five children in seven years. The 1950s were a very busy decade. Their love would last, even when she lost our Dad to cancer at the young age of 32. Their marriage was a short 10 years, but Maxine was stronger than the overwhelming grief she bore. She was courageous and determined, moving her kids and pets across the country in a station wagon for the dream of California. Mom never showed fear at moving and starting again, and her great sense of humor got her through many trials and tribulations.

In the Bible, Proverbs 31 speaks of a wife of noble character worth far more than rubies. Maxine possessed many of these qualities. Her husband had full confidence in her (to raise these children alone) and she held him in high regard all the days of her life. She worked with eager hands at many various jobs. She considered a field-in this case, a donut shop-and bought it, not simply to provide a family income, but to teach her children (and many of their friends) about work ethic, teamwork, showing up on time (even in the dark!), and doing a job the best you possibly could. She opened her heart to the poor, experiencing the joy of packing Operation Christmas Child boxes each year. She gave of herself without expecting anything in return and lived with a grateful heart. "Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." - Proverbs 31:31

Mom loved animals and had many favorite dogs (mostly poodles) and cats (mostly Siamese), and even a racehorse or two throughout her lifetime. Her love of the theatre never waned. She attended Broadway plays and musicals wherever she lived, even starting a theatre group and directing a few plays herself. As a huge fan of movies and movie stars (especially Robert Redford), Maxine even worked as an extra on a few Hollywood sets. At the age of 85, she published a novel titled After All These Years, a project she was proud to have written. Mom also painstakingly wrote her life's story for posterity, which included a first-hand account of the 9/11 attacks she witnessed from a mere 2 blocks away while visiting New York City in 2001. Her list of hobbies and pastimes was long and eclectic, including traveling, singing, painting and drawing, gardening, golf, basketball, listening to music, and savoring anything chocolate, among many others.

We are beyond grateful for her life, her love, her guidance, her laughter, and her encouragement to each of her children. She urged us all, in her final week, to stay connected to each other to honor her memory-and that will be a very easy promise for us to keep.

Maxine survived her husband two more lifetimes than he was given. She is survived by her five children: Doug, Robin, Pamela, Cheryl, and Cathy; her grandchildren: Bailey, Adam, Airyn, and Amanda; and her great-grandchildren: Aizen, Solomon, Mallory, Aureya, and Catherine. Maxine's independence, her wit, her creativity, and her love live on in us all, and together we rise up and call her blessed.