Coila, N.Y.
Josephine Grace
Maxwell, 84,
died peacefully
in the early
morning hours of
Saturday, July
26, 2008, at the
Vermont
Veteran's Home,
Bennington, Vt.,
where she had
been a resident
for several
months.
She
was the widow of
Horace Rich
Maxwell who died
in 1991. Born
Wednesday, May
21, 1924 in
Bennington, she
was the daughter
of Charles and
Grace Brown
Prentiss.
At
the age of 11
she moved to
Coila, to live
with the family
of Helen and
Clarence
Merriman and
attended the
Coila School for
seventh grade.
She continued
her education at
the Cambridge
Union School and
graduated in
1943.
During World War
II she worked at
Dun Barton's
thread mill in
Greenwich. She
moved with the
Merrimans when
they moved to
the farm on
County Route 62.
In 1955
Josephine was
badly burned in
a fire and spent
more than a year
in the hospital.
She then
returned to the
farm and after
Clarence died,
she helped Helen
run the farm.
She was in
charge of cattle
breeding, an
unusual job for
a woman at that
time. Later, she
and Helen became
partners in the
farm. Josephine
worked at
General Electric
in Fort Edward
for nine years
retiring in 1980
when she married
Horace. They
were married on
May 3, and
resided at the
Maxwell home
next to the
Coila Garage.
She was a member
and former
deacon of the
Shushan United
Presbyterian
Church and a
member of the
Mary McClellan
Hospital
Auxiliary for
many years.
Several years
ago, Josephine
moved to the
Cambridge Guest
Home and more
recently to the
Veteran's Home.
Survivors
include three
step-children,
Patricia Maxwell
of Seattle,
Wash., Dr. James
Maxwell of the
Bahamas, and
Martha Davis of
Coila; Two
siblings,
Beatrice Hatch
and her husband,
William, of
Cambridge, and
Harry Prentiss
of Charleston,
S.C.; A
sister-in-law,
Muriel M. Lufkin
of Coila; Eight
grandchildren,
Brandon Knight
and his wife,
Angelina, Megan
Case and her
husband, Jeff,
Ben Adlin, Kelly
Maxwell-Watkins
and her husband,
Jason, Megan
Maxwell, Brian
Davis and his
wife, Stephanie,
Kaitlin Wolff
and her husband,
Freddie, and
Jonathan Davis;
Seven
great-grandchildren,
Victoria, Ian
and Michael
Knight, Casey
and Mackenzie
Wolff and Noah
and Olivia
Davis; Several
nieces, nephews,
great-nieces and
great-nephews. A
brother, Arthur
(Stubby)
Prentiss of
Bennington, died
before her.
A service to
honor and
remember
Josephine's life
will be held at
the Shushan
United
Presbyterian
Church on
Friday, Aug. 1,
2008 at 2 p.m.
with the Rev.
George Orlemann
officiating. A
reception will
follow. Her
ashes will be
buried at
Woodlands
Cemetery with
her husband at a
private
ceremony. The
family suggests
memorial
donations be
made to either
Cambridge Valley
Rescue Squad,
P.O. Box 52,
Cambridge, NY
12816; The
Shushan United
Presbyterian
Church, Shushan,
NY 12873 or the
Vermont
Veteran's Home
Activity Fund,
425 North St.,
Bennington, VT
05201.
Arrangements are
under the
direction of
Ackley & Ross
Funeral Home,
Cambridge.
Class of 1943
Tribute Index
Red Rose List |