Obituary of Mary Ann Maxwell

Mary Ann Maxwell passed away at home surrounded by her children on January 24, 2024. She was born on May 25, 1936 in St. Paul, Minnesota and spent her life spreading joy and happiness to her family and friends. Although her brothers Robert and Jack were older she spent her childhood mothering them where she did all the pressing and ironing of their shirts and pants. She graduated from Humboldt High School in St. Paul where she was part of marching band as a baton twirler; she never missed a class reunion. Maryann just loved the Minnesota State Fair and likewise, couldn’t imagine the thought of missing the fair attending every year starting with her two brothers during their childhood and later as an adult where she would share the event with her children, friends, or by herself.

A young girl at the age of fifteen, Maryann met Darrell Richard Maxwell. They were married and built a family of three children in Lakeville, Minnesota on Lake Marion. The life they created was like a fairytale including lake life with horses, dogs, cats, rabbits and geese. Maryann also adored her canine family but to gather with her family on holidays or for any occasion brought Maryann the most joy. She also cherished memories where she would enjoy a margarita at Boca Chica restaurant in St. Paul with DeeDee, her dear friend and sister in-law.

Maryann held many important roles and wore many hats in her lifetime including daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Starting as a young child, Maryann worked hard picking vegetables with her brothers at a farm field in St. Paul. She went on to have many careers including grocery stocking and cashier at Penny’s, coat check clerk at the Thunderbird Motel, payroll administrator and financial wizard for Fabcon, receptionist for Orchard Garden Golf Course, house painter, and her most important role - homemaker. In the past 23 years she volunteered at JR’s and had the best role ever. She never missed a day at JR’s because she referred to the many people from there as family.

Busy as she was, she still found time for many hobbies including ceramics, art, cooking, entertaining, twirling the baton, golfing, bowling, gardening, swimming, fishing, travel, and most of all she enjoyed playing any kind of cards or games. She played cards every Thursday with her lady friends at the Lakeville Senior Center and enjoyed the occasional dinner with them after cards.

She had a beautiful smile and laughter that was contagious and had many one-line phrases that brought a smile to many faces. She was very patriotic and had a love for the American Bald Eagle. She drove down to Red Wing and Lake City every year to see the

winter gathering of eagles on the mighty Mississippi river and proudly flew the American Flag as often as possible. Maryann was a natural caretaker and loved wildlife and especially the birds and deer that frequent her yard; she fed them seed and bread, named them, and enjoyed watching them for years. She had a mother deer she named Lady Jane that had many fawns over the years. Every spring she would announce that Bill and Hilary had returned, a mated pair of geese. Of course, there was a pair of mallard ducks that she named Donald and Daisy. Her life was brilliant, and we will miss her for the rest of our lives.

Maryann is survived by her brother Robert Addyman and sister-In-law Lois (DeeDee) Addyman; son Richard Maxwell (Liz); daughters Kathleen MacDonald and Barbara Maxwell; grandsons Coire McCabe (Alyssa), and Jeremy Morgan (Candace); granddaughter Courtney Haggerty (Austin); great-grandson, Ian; great-granddaughters Addison and Charolette; nephews, Jack (Robin), Mark (Sandy), Steven, and Scott (Michele) Addyman; niece Cynthia Giles (Tony); the Zeien family and many special friends. She is preceded in death by her parents Ann and Robert Addyman; and her brother Jack Addyman; ex-husband Darrell and dear friends Norma and Russell Cooper.

A Celebration of Life will be held with family and friends in Lakeville at her house 18900 Orchard Trail on Saturday, June 15th from 12:00- 3:00 PM.

The family wishes to thank the Lakeville Hospice team for the kind care and guidance during Mary Ann’s last month of life.