Maxine M (Hebron) Wareham

Maxine M. (Hebron) Wareham, 102, of Hazel Park, Michigan, formerly of Strawberry Point, Iowa, passed away at her son’s residence in Hazel Park on Thursday, March 15, 2018. She was born on November 18, 1915, in Clayton County to Clarence and Catherine (Smith) Hebron. She grew up on the family farm known as "Shady Rest" and graduated from Strawberry Point High School. She then attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette and afterward taught grades one through eight in a country school.

Maxine joined the United States Women’s Army Corps, serving honorably until her discharge a few years later. She then resided in Washington state working at a Boeing plant helping to build B-17s for the war effort before teaching school for a short while.

Maxine returned to Iowa, and in 1947, she was united in marriage to Robert Arthur Wareham at St. Mary Catholic Church in Strawberry Point, where she had been baptized, received her First Holy Communion, and had been confirmed. One son (Douglas Kirk) was born to that union in 1949. In 1951, Maxine and her mother sold everything and bought a new car. With her son, they drove to California where she soon had a teaching job in third grade. Over the next several years she went to night school and received her teaching credentials from California State University, Los Angeles and then later received her master’s degree in education at UCLA. Robert joined Maxine in 1953. They were separated in 1955.

Maxine retired from teaching from Hawthorne School District in California in 1981. In her retirement she volunteered for many organizations, with her most satisfying work being a docent for the La Brea Tar Pits Museum in Los Angeles. Her abilities in teaching were put to good use there tapping into her great interest in the subject matter. She maintained an active social life with all that were associated with that facility. Family and friends were always an important aspect of Maxine's life. She loved her granddaughters dearly, seeing them often and having them over to her home many times where she "spoiled" them. Maxine had a great love of books and was an avid reader of historical nonfiction and fiction. Abraham Lincoln and John Adams were her favorites. Maxine loved animals and had great compassion for their fair and loving treatment. She had horses growing up on the farm and always had a cat in her home for company. Maxine had great respect and love of country. She was active with her mother in Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) before their move to California. God and her Catholic faith were profoundly important to her also. All in all, she was a kind, gentle, helpful, and humble soul. She loved the Lord with all her heart. In 2012, she moved to Michigan with her son, who had been living with her since 2008.

Survivors include her son, Douglas Wareham of Michigan; two granddaughters in California, Rebecca Wareham and Rachel (Gary) Garcia; one great-granddaughter, Sienna Belle Garcia; and a nephew, Richard (Linda) Hebron of Garden City, Iowa.

Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, a brother and sister-in-law, Bruce and Winifred Hebron, and a baby sister, who passed away shortly after birth.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Maxine M (Hebron) Wareham, please visit our floral store.