Maxine Altena Obituary

Maxine Evelyn ALTENA Died peacefully in her sleep on October 2, 2006. Her heart may have stopped beating, but her love and faith will continue to inspire her family and friends. Maxine was born in Hunter, Kansas on October 16, 1923, to Carl and Pearl Seehafer. After high school, she left the farming life to become a cosmetologist. She moved to Yakima, Washington in 1944. It was there that she met her husband, Sydney. They were married on December 20, 1946, and settled in Richland, Washington, where Syd found work at the Hanford Project. Maxine and Syd were early and active members of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Richland where Maxine was a Sunday School teacher for 24 years. Maxine kept very busy while raising their three children: Gene, Dianna, and Ken. Her younger sister, Phyllis followed her to Richland in 1947, and Maxine and Phyllis remained very close throughout their lives. Maxine made many wonderful friends in Richland and greatly enjoyed all the birthday parties, dances and other special events they shared together over the years. She also enjoyed working and one of her favorite jobs was as the Catering Manager at the then Rivershore Motel. While in her 50s Maxine went back to college and earned an AA degree in Motel Management from Columbia Basin CC. Maxine used that degree to land a job as Manager of the University Motel in Seattle in 1982 where she worked until she retired. Since retiring, Maxine and Syd have resided in their current home near Northgate. Maxine and Syd have been faithful members of Messiah Lutheran Church while in Seattle. Maxine's family and friends were her greatest joy. She was especially proud of her 4 grandchildren to whom she was Nana. Maxine is survived by her husband, Sydney Altena; her son, Eugene Altena, his wife, Mary and their children, Melinda and Kevin; her daughter, Dianna Altena; her son, Kenneth Altena, his wife, Jennifer and their children, David and Kathryn; her sister's daughters, Carla Johnson, Dawn Faulk, and Teresa Boyd; her "daughter", Maria Kruse; and many other very special relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Phyllis Faulk, and her brother, Mervin Seehafer. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, October 22, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, 7050 35th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98115. Remembrances may be made to Messiah Lutheran Church or the charity of your choice. The family will also accept donations to the Seattle Parks Foundation to be used to place a park bench in Maxine's honor.