Catherine S. "Kit" Maxwell

Catherine Susan (Kit) Maxwell, age 84, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, December 28th, surrounded by her husband and sons. Kit was born on August 20, 1936 in Monroe, Michigan to Fred and Kay (Brunton) Lemerand. Kit graduated from St Mary Academy in 1954 and married her high school sweetheart, George R Maxwell, on August 18, 1956 at St Mary's Catholic Church in Monroe where she was a lifetime parishioner. Kit's life was one of devotion to her family and faithfulness to God. She worked at The Monroe Evening News for a time before she headed to Virginia with George, where he was stationed in the Army. Around the same time, her longest, hardest and most fulfilling job began as the mother to five rambunctious sons, Todd, Mark, Eric, Kevin and Ryan. Her sons remember her as the ultimate stay at home mom. She was a great cook who always made sure there was enough to go around for the six hungry men in her life. She also got us prepared and to school and every practice on time, cheered us on from the stands, and made sure we were at Mass every Sunday. In addition, she taught us how to do everything she did. When we ultimately all moved out on our own, we all knew how to cook, clean and do laundry. Kit enjoyed volunteering, especially with St Mary's Parish and the boy's schools, St Mary's Grade School and St Mary Catholic Central. In her later years, she was recognized with an award for her work with Habit for Humanity. After the boys were grown and George retired, they spent Winters in Destin, Florida with a group of good friends from Monroe. She and George enjoyed walking the beach, reading on their balcony, cocktail parties with their friends, and of course, the "early bird" dinner specials. They also enjoyed golfing in a snow bird league where Kit scored her first and only hole-in-one. Summer's were spent at the family cottage on Lake Missaukee in Lake City. Kit enjoyed watching her grand daughters grow from little kids playing in the sand to grown women excelling at skiing, wake boarding and wake surfing. She looked forward to the dinners her sons and daughter-in-law would prepare for the family, loved an after dinner cruise on the pontoon boat and anxiously anticipated the new and interesting cocktails her grand daughters would surprise her with. George and the boys recognize how blessed they were to have such a loving wife and mother looking after them for so many years and enjoyed returning the favor. Kit enjoyed it as well. As she watched George open her recipe box and fix a family favorite, or her boys caring for her in her last months, she would often say with a wry smile, "my how the tables have turned". Appreciation also to Mark, who lives in Monroe and could always be counted on to look after them, keep us informed or run a quick errand to assist in the care of mom. Kit is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, George, her sons Todd (Nancy), Mark, Eric, Kevin and Ryan, grand daughters Colleen, Kelsey, Kylie, Kendall and Reese, brother Fred (Chris) Lemerand, sister Annette (Harold) Smith, and numerous brother and sister-in-laws and nieces and nephews. Due to the current Covid restrictions a private, family Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St Mary's Church with Father Brian Chabala officiating. A Celebration of Kit's Life will follow in the Summer. The family would like to thank John, Nicole, Anne, Hayley and Karen from Promedica Hospice for their care and kindness this past week, as well as our extended family and friends for all of the phone calls, food and showing of support. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St Mary's Parish or St Mary Catholic Central would be appreciated. Bacarella Funeral Home, 1201 S. Telegraph Rd., Monroe, MI, 48161 is assisting Kit’s family with funeral arrangements. Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the family by visiting the obituary page at www.bacarellafuneralhome.com.

Catherine S. "Kit" Maxwell

August 20, 1936 - December 28, 2020