Maxine Natrasony

Phyllis Maxine Natrasony

Maxine was born December 30, 1944 in Winnipeg, MB. Within a few days she was adopted by John “Jack” and Florence McKenzie. They spent the first few years of their life in Flin Flon, MB, before relocating to Lynn Lake, MB. Sadly, Florence passed away in 1961 when Maxine was 16 years old. Jack married Lola in 1967, who Maxine and her family knew and loved as mom/grandma.

In the early 1960s Maxine met the love of her life, Richard. They were married in June 1963 and welcomed four daughters Sheila, Shauna, and identical twins April and Ardyth. 4 kids in 5 years kept them busy! Maxine and Richard went on to welcome 11 grandchildren, and Maxine four great grandchildren.  

In 1973, after retiring from hard rock mining, Richard and Maxine bought a cattle farm and moved to Garland, MB. Over the years their family flourished and kept them busy. In June 1996, Richard heartbreakingly passed away, leaving Maxine without her soulmate. She was very appreciative of her daughters and their families that helped her through that difficult time.

In October 1997 Maxine embarked on a new adventure and moved to Esterhazy, SK. She especially enjoyed her time working at Flair, where she met Pauline who became her best friend and confidant. They spent countless hours together which turned into years of working, talking, shopping, and laughing.

Maxine retired in 2018, and although she loved visiting family, friends and neighbours, she savored quiet time at home. She had a wide array of hobbies she enjoyed over the years including knitting and paint-by-number. She enjoyed her “flutter-bys” (butterflies), lady bugs, and owls. She started every conversation with “good morning, good day or good evening”, and ended every conversation with “love ya” and if you were visiting in person she would wave and blow a kiss to you from her living room window. She brought joy and life into the room with her witty sense of humour, welcomed everyone to be themselves without judgement, and was seemingly always in a good mood. 

Maxine was predeceased by her loving husband Richard, her daughter April, her mother Florence, her parents Jack and Lola McKenzie, her brothers-in-law Bob and Ken, and sister-in-law Marion, biological mother Elizabeth; her siblings, Bill, Jean, Kay, Hal, Geraldine, Ronnie, Bruce, Brian, James, and Margaret (infant).

She leaves to cherish her memory her children Sheila (Brent), Shauna, Ardyth (Jim), son in law Jeff, her grandchildren Mitchell (Kelsey), Dennea (Steve), Scott (Brook), Rhyse (Ali), Evan, Alysha, Jacob (Kylee), Emma (Oliver), Chloe, Brayden, and Sydney (Noah), great grandchildren Wynn, Mila, Laker and Aidan, her sisters-in-law Linda, Lillian, Carol, Diana, Evelyn, and Sherry, brother-in-law Gordie and her biological siblings Lynn, Bev, and Richard.

“You were an angel in the shape of my mom. When I fell down, you'd be there holding me up. Spread your wings as you go. And when God takes you back, He'll say, "Hallelujah, you're home.”