Maxine Parish, 102

Maxine Loraine (Reiling) Parish was born April 23, 1916, in Battle Creek. When Maxine was a young girl, her parents, John L. Reiling and Sophia (Bent) Reiling, moved the family to Three Rivers. Maxine graduated in 1934, from Lima High School in Howe, Ind.
Maxine married Vernal Parish and they lived in Ontario, Ind. Maxine and Vernal owned and operated Parish Hardware in Howe, Ind., for 30 years before retiring. Maxine was not one to sit still in retirement, though, and she kept herself busy making hundreds of quilts, taking care of her large garden and baking delicious pies. She was truly an amazing quiltmaker, and those wonderful quilts are probably the first thing that comes to mind for most people when you mention her name. While Maxine probably could have sold those quilts for a considerable price, her family does not believe she ever sold one. Instead, because she was such a generous person, she gave them away to family, friends and anyone else she thought might enjoy having a quilt. Later in life, Maxine moved to Sturgis.
Maxine lived to be 102 and was not far from her 103rd birthday when she passed. She died on Thursday, Jan.17, 2019, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. Despite being 102, her hair was still the same auburn brown color as when she was a young woman, and she had only a hint of gray. Her longevity and strength was an inspiration to her family.
Maxine is survived by her son, Jeffrey L. (Georgette) Parish of Willow Springs, N.C.; her daughter; five grandchildren, John Pouch, Jacob Pouch, Katie Pouch, Jason Parish and Joshua Parish; and five great-grandchildren. Aunt Max also is survived by several nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews who loved her dearly.
She was preceded in death by her brothers John Reiling and Denzil Reiling; and her sisters Marguerite Cain, Katheryn Gauthier, Beatrice Weidenbeck and Luella Kendall.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21, at Hackman Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis. A funeral service will be held at noon Tuesday, Jan. 22, at the funeral home, with burial to immediately follow at Bly Cemetery in Marcellus.
Memorial donations may be directed to Thurston Woods Village, 307 N. Franks Ave., Sturgis, MI 49091; or the charity of one’s choice .
Her obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.