Maurine Hawbecker Fordyce
Maurine Hawbecker Fordyce
Maurine Hawbecker Fordyce passed away October 3, 2014 at her residence in MeadowView Memory Care, Baraboo, her home for the past 6 years. Maurine was born on January 27, 1918 in Sac City, Iowa, the daughter of Lorita and James Russel Hawbecker. She spent the first 7 years of her life on her parent's farm in Sarona, Wisconsin. Then, Maurine, her sister Lorraine and brother James, returned with their parents to Sac City where Maurine spent her formative years. She enrolled in Iowa State College (now University) in 1936 where she received her degree in Home Economics. She worked as a registered dietician for the Stouffer Restaurant chain, first in Washington DC and then in Pittsburg. It was in Pittsburg that she was visited by former Sac City beau John Fordyce. He asked her to move out west to his new home in Los Angeles and become his wife. They were married on September 10, 1946 and lived in Alhambra where they had their 2 children, Jack and Sara. Another move took them to northern California where they finally settled down in Millbrae, a suburb of San Francisco. They spent a total of 60 years in California. After John's death in 2006 a move to Baraboo, Wisconsin took Maurine full circle back to her mid-western roots. Here she was able to live in close proximity to her daughter, Sara Fordyce Strozinsky, and they relished an abundance of time spent together. Maurine was a Presbyterian by birth but it was in Millbrae where she found her beloved Millbrae Methodist Church. Maurine was also very active in P.E.O. and valued these sisters with all her heart. She often said that college would have been unattainable for her had it not been for this organization. Maurine was a fantastic cook and seamstress. She loved to play golf and bridge, and spend as much time as possible with her 5 grandchildren: Jennifer (Pettitt) and Noah Fordyce; Abby (Rodriguez), Andrew and Anna Strozinsky. She was a loving and generous aunt to her nieces and nephews. Maurine was preceded in death by her father and mother, sister, brother, two nephews and her beloved husband John.Maurine's family wishes to thank MeadowView Memory Care for the amazing love and care they provided Maurine during her 6 years there. This place truly was her home and she had a connection with her caregivers that went very deep. We would also like to thank Trinity Episcopal Church, Baraboo, for their Lay Eucharistic Ministry volunteers who visited her weekly. And we wish to thank Agrace Hospice for holding our hand during the end of her life. What an amazing thing hospice care is. Maurine's life was a blessing to all who knew her.