Maxine Harding

Date of Birth

Dec 18,1930

Date of Death

Jul 04,2012

MAXINE HARDING, age 81, of Lily Lake, passed away on July 4, 2012 at her home. A gentle and loving heart faded into celestial glory to be together once more with her husband Bill and will be missed dearly. BORN: She was born on December 18, 1930 on the Russell Farm in Burlington, the daughter of Alvin "Bud" and Ella (Lindquist) LindgrenEARLY YEARS:She began a lifelong love affair with the Sycamore and Lily Lake areas in a one room school house in Lovell’s Crossing on Rt. 64. She also attended local schools in Sycamore.MARRIAGE: Maxine was blessed with a lasting love very early in life. She was united in marriage to William "Bill" Harding on Valentine’s Day in 1946. They began their life farming in the Genoa-Sycamore area for four years before moving to her families homestead near Lily Lake. RESIDENTIAL HISTORY: Later they both ran a trucking business, Harding Express, where Bill drove the trucks and Maxine became the office manager. OCCUPATION / WORK HISTORY:After they retired from the trucking business, Maxine found work at Montgomery Ward in St. Charles until they closed their doors.MEMBERSHIPS: She was an active member of the Grace Lutheran Church serving as a communion assistant and the Rebecca Circle. LIFE NOTES: Maxine and Bill began a pinochle card club in the fifties, making lifelong friends and thousands of memories. She also took pride in her yard, making sure it was as close to perfection as she could get it. Her house was her kingdom and her kitchen her castle as she hosted over 60 years of Christmas Eve parties. Maxine always had a smile and always had a camera to capture the smiles of others. Those special moments caught on film became a special gift to many as she mailed off each memory to lucky family and friends. Some of the pictures stayed with her and became works of art through her scrapbooking. The legacy of memories that are left behind will be treasured forever by her family and friends. SURVIVORS: She is survived by three children : Marilyn McConnaughay of Sugar Grove, ILDianne "Dee" (Gary) Hartung of Genoa, IL and Russell (Isabel) Harding of Plantation, FL;Five grandchildren:Marsha (Jerry) Schuster of Batavia, IL, Brent (Colleen) McConnaughay of Sycamore, ILBill Sebby of ARRuthie (Brian) Giese of Montgomery, ILJenny (Jim) Buchanan of Oswego, ILEleven great-grandchildren: Owen Schuster, Molly Schuster, Mary Kate McConnaughay Maggie McConnaughay, Megan McConnaughay, Jacob Giese, Reagan Giese, Justin Giese, Lauren BuchananGrace Buchanan and Caroline Buchanan ;One brother Charles "Chili" (Pat) Lindgren of Elgin;A son-in-law, Bob Sebby of Bull Shoals, AR, many nieces, nephews and countryside of friends. PRECEDED:She is preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Bill, her parents, one daughter Carolyn Sebby, a son-in-law David McConnaughay and one sister Doris Olson. VISITATION / FUNERAL Visitation will be from 9-11:30 a.m., Saturday, July 7, at Grace Lutheran Church, 5N600 Hanson Rd., Lily Lake, IL. A funeral to celebrate her life will follow visitation. Rev. Ernst Rex, pastor of the church, will officiate and interment will follow at Lily Lake Cemetery.MEMORIAL In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in her name to benefit her favorite charities. Checks may be made to the "Maxine Harding Memorial" and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address or on the web at www.conleycare.com where you can find her full life story.

Visitation will be from 9-11:30 a.m., Saturday, July 7, at Grace Lutheran Church, 5N600 Hanson Rd., Lily Lake, IL. A funeral to celebrate her life will follow visitation. Rev. Ernst Rex, pastor of the church, will officiate.

Interment will follow at Lily Lake Cemetery.

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