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2 tree(s) planted in memory of Max Demaray
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Eric Ross posted a symbolic gesture
Thursday, April 28, 2022
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Deb, Rick and family, So sorry to hear of Max's passing. We have been away and just returned home to hear the news. I always enjoyed Max's stories and the smile he always seemed to carry. He was a great customer at Leslie's and spent time chatting about things at the legion or at the Fish Fry's in Bayfield. Our sympathy to all Eric and Deb Ross
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Neil and Marie McGavin posted a condolence
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
To all of Max's family and friends,
We send our sincere sympathy to all. May your memories help you in the days ahead.
A life well lived!
Neil and Marie McGavin
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Ron& Anne Foster pledged to donate to MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY OF CANADA / SOCIÉTÉ CANADIENNE DE LA SCLÉROSE EN PLAQUES
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
In memory of Max Demaray
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Frank & Dorothy Procter pledged to donate to BMG Building Renovation Fund
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Our sincere condolences
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SheilaPrescott posted a condolence
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
We extend our condolences to all of Max family. Max will be greatly missed in the community. He was a very special gentleman who always had a smile and time to have a chat. Now he is at peace and we all have our precious, treasured memories to share. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all ..
Sheila Prescott and family
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The Quehe Family planted a tree in memory of Max Demaray
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
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Words cant express the love and gratitude, Ill continue our heritage stories and be forever grateful for my outlet (with ice cream ). Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree
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Ken and Marg Caldwell - Clinton posted a condolence
Monday, April 25, 2022
Debbie and Joe - Our sincere condolence on the passing of your father - he has certainly left a great legacy of his years. We recall many times meeting with you folk at political functions and even on vacation in Florida some years ago.
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Gil Latimer and Marilyn little posted a condolence
Monday, April 25, 2022
Gil and I were saddened to learn of Max’s passing. Max was a very likeable man and enjoyable to chat with. To the Demaray family please accept our sincere condolences during this difficult time.
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Jim & Susan McCutcheon posted a condolence
Monday, April 25, 2022
Thinking of all the Demaray Family at this difficult time. We are sorry to hear of the loss of your Dad.
We trust you have many wonderful memories to treasure in your hearts forever.
Our sincere condolences.
Jim & Susan McCutcheon
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Karen and Dave Hastings posted a condolence
Monday, April 25, 2022
Our condolences to Deb and Joe their family, and all relatives of Max..he will be missed...Karen and Dave Hastings.
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Wayne & Lynn McDonagh pledged to donate to BMG Building Renovation Fund
Monday, April 25, 2022
sorry about your problems
Nice man
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DENNIS AND DIANNE DOSMAN posted a condolence
Monday, April 25, 2022
Sincere sympathy to all of Max's family. Sorry for your loss. Dennis and Dianne Dosman
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Audrey and Murray Johnston posted a condolence
Monday, April 25, 2022
Condolences to all of Max family at this time of loss. May God be with you all. Murray and Audrey Johnston.
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Don &Dianne Bray posted a symbolic gesture
Sunday, April 24, 2022
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Max you were a man we could call a FREIND , YOU will be missed.
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Michele Bennett posted a condolence
Sunday, April 24, 2022
I am so so sorry to hear of Max's passing. I will miss our telephone chats to catch up and lunches. And, disappointed to be out of province at this time. My sincerest condolences to the family. He spoke of you all with pride! His zest for life will always be remembered! What a beautiful tribute displayed. RIP Max. Michele Bennett
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Marguerite Thomas posted a condolence
Sunday, April 24, 2022
Farewell to Max Demaray – The Rural Referee
They say that people come into our lives for a reason or a season. I came into Max’s life as his last season was winding down. Although I had not met Max before 2020, his granddaughter Jacquie and I have been special friends since the 90’s when she was a teenager, and I was the local public health nurse and involved with the Ark Youth Centre here in Brussels.
After I lost my husband in May 2020, I started writing articles for the North Huron Citizen on Widowhood during Covid. I had reached out to other widows to contribute to my writing, but I also wanted more male perspectives. I asked Jacquie to ask her grandfather if he would call me. Well, he did call, and it was the beginning of a short, but wonderful, friendship. It was not a late life romance; but it was a friendship with great affection. First, we talked on the phone frequently. We reminisced about old times and the Grey, Bruce, Huron and Perth places, people, and things.
Max collaborated with me for all the remaining widowhood articles, and he came to my home many times. He was a true gentleman of the old school in many ways. One day we were sitting outside on my new arbour, and he started telling me a story about back in his working days when one of the staff girls thought that she should be paid as much as the men doing the same job. “Max, do you hear yourself?” I asked. He looked all innocent, and asked, “What”? “Max,” I said, “I worked in the same era when women doing the same work as men were automatically paid less and you just nailed it there by calling the woman a girl.” I continued, “A girl is a female child, but you were talking about an adult woman capable of doing a job. What if you had a group of strong and capable women and a boy doing the same job said that he wanted to be paid as much as the women? Language is immensely powerful and calling working women ‘girls’ takes away their power.” He took a moment to think about it and then said, “I get what you mean. I had never thought of it that way.” I joked that I turned him into a feminist that day. I did not, but it was a small step in the right direction and bless him for his ability to rethink old beliefs.
Another example was again in my back yard. We were looking at the new evening garden that I created with solar lights and white flowers. He loved spending time in my back yard which faces the river, but on the way into the house he knocked over an inexpensive solar railing light. It fell apart, and I told him not to worry. Instead, he picked up the pieces, clicked them back together and said, “There now, I hope that I have redeemed myself.” Such a sweet old-fashioned expression – nobody speaks of redeeming themselves anymore, but he did.
As we became friends, Max would come for happy hours, and we often ate together. I asked him what he liked, and he said, “Raisin pie, raisin bread and raising hell.” Of course, I made raisin pie for him too and tried to master the art of great French Fries. He told me that they were excellent, but that Deb made the best. Max was a very loyal family-oriented person, who never turned down any invitation to come here, often with Rick. One day he brought me two pints of strawberries that he had picked up at the Mennonites. I asked how much I owed him, and he said “Nothing, you are good to me, and you have to let me reciprocate.” So, I did.
For my job and leisure, I love to write, and, in our discussions, Max talked about how his family was encouraging him to write his life story, especially about his years as a hockey referee. I offered to ghostwrite for him as writing life stories was something that I had been keen on doing. He talked about his son Rick and his computer and how he could talk into the computer and print it out. I told him that we could start there, and he began bringing over printouts of his referee story. He would readily get frustrated with how the printouts distorted what he meant, and he must have called Rick a thousand times before we completed the story. Rick, bless him, went over one thousand times to sort it out. Max’s original intention was that his story was just for family. He loved his family and talked a lot about the two who lived close by, Deb and Rick, but also the phone calls from David and Rob and all the times spent with grandkids, great grandkids, and great-great granddaughter. Although his first intent was that this story was just for family, as I saw the quality of his story, I suggested that it would great for publication in the Huron Perth Boomer magazine. I had published there several times, so I pitched the story to Amy Irwin, the editor. It took a while to hear back, and Max was sure that the story would be of no general interest, but I held firm. Then the day came when we heard from Amy that she accepted the story. She still wanted photos, but we were good to go. I was so excited; I was practically dancing on the ceiling. Rick, Deb, and Jacquie were also excited, but Max was the pessimist, who still could not believe that it was worthwhile. Nobody would read it.
Time went on and then one day Amy sent us the proofs. Now Max was seeing that it could happen, and it did, in the Fall 2021 edition – the title on the front page “Old Barns and Sin Bins – Memories of a Rural Referee”. Now Max was excited! We all gave copies to everyone we knew and told folks about it. Max was absolutely thrilled to know that people from the east coast to the west coast and all the way to New Mexico wanted copies. He was a star! And no longer reluctant. He loved every minute of people getting in touch and telling him how much they enjoyed the article. Our editor, Amy, has provided extra copies of the Boomer magazine and she shared what a dear man he was. Indeed, he was a dear, sweet man.
Max was always sharp, but one time we did pull on over on him. On his 88th birthday in August, I invited him and Rick over for a simple happy hour in the gazebo. He was all nicely settled in with a Caesar, thinking this was it, when Deb and Joe came in singing “Happy Birthday” and bringing him a surprise birthday cake. Jacquie joined us and the party was on. He loved it.
Over the next few months, I had knee replacement surgery and spent weeks recuperating in Oshawa with my daughter. Max called often, always hoping that I was not in pain and was continuing to improve. I came back home, and we continued to chat, but spent less time together in person due to Covid mandates.
A couple of weeks before Max passed, Rick was over to help me with a small task and he told me that Max had lost his good friend Harvey Black. I phoned Max to offer condolences as I knew this would be hard on him. He had spoken often and fondly of Harvey, who featured large in the article. I had made plans to buy a raisin pie from the United Church when they were available, and my idea was to bake it and take it to his new home in Listowel the week after Easter. I got the pie, but before I could do that, Max emailed me the address for Harvey’s widow Barb. He wanted me to share the widowhood articles. So close to his end but wanting to help others. It was our last conversation because the next day he became seriously ill and then he was gone.
There are so many legacies from our brief time together as friends. I love it that his final communication was to help another widow. I love it that my reason was to help him publish the article, the jewel in the crown of his final year. I do not love it that he and our seasons in the sun passed so quickly and that he never got that last raisin pie. Adieu Maxwell, it was hard to know you died when all the birds were singing in the sky. Wherever you are now, I hope that you are raising hell.
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Ross and Bunny Peacock posted a condolence
Sunday, April 24, 2022
Our sincere condolences to all the family of Max... we have many fond memories of him over the years...
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Joan Bernard posted a condolence
Saturday, April 23, 2022
Condolences and prayers for the Demaray Family on Max’s passing. Joan Bernard
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Bill and Susan Boneschansker posted a condolence
Saturday, April 23, 2022
Deepest sympathies to the Demaray Family on the passing of Max. Please accept our condolences for your loss.
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Carol Edgar posted a condolence
Saturday, April 23, 2022
Sincere Sympathy to the Demaray Family on the passing of Max. Cherish your memories .Cam and Carol .
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Carla lit a candle
Friday, April 22, 2022
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Mike and Kathy Bishop posted a condolence
Friday, April 22, 2022
To Max's entire family, our deepest sympathy to each of you. Max was full of whit and charm. Teasing, laughing and always smiling. Share your memories with each other to try and help ease your loss.
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Beth and Don Crawford pledged to donate to BMG Building Renovation Fund
Friday, April 22, 2022
So sorry for your loss Deb, may the many memories of yesteryear give you comfort.
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Darlene McCutcheon posted a condolence
Friday, April 22, 2022
Our sympathy to all of Max's family , he was always a great reffing buddy and friend to Dad, Fondly referred to as "Maxwell Smart" in our family ,
Rest in peace Max, may your " off ice overtime" continue,
Darlene and Andrew McCutcheon and family
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Sharon Cowman posted a condolence
Friday, April 22, 2022
My deepest sympathy to all of Max's family. He was extremely proud of you. Max was a good friend and neighbour from the farm. Your work is done, Rest In Peace Max, Rest In Peace
Sharon Cowman
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Sandra Edgar posted a condolence
Friday, April 22, 2022
My sympathy to all of the Demaray family in Max’s passing.
Cherish all your family memories.
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Bob Gilbert posted a condolence
Friday, April 22, 2022
So sorry for your loss. Max was a charming fellow with a big smile. He always had a joke and remark to go with it. He was a very fine neighbour to have.
Bob and Anne Gilbert
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Sandy Woodcock posted a condolence
Friday, April 22, 2022
My sincere Condolences to the family
I will always remember our trip with Kay and Max out West to The Pas for Kay’s nieces wedding theme “I will walk 500 Miles” it was a very interesting 5 Wheel experience .
May Max and Kay Rest In Peace together .
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Miss Blakley Kaye lit a candle
Friday, April 22, 2022
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Love from Miss Blakley Kaye
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Dorothy & Bob Cummings pledged to donate to BMG Building Renovation Fund
Friday, April 22, 2022
Sending condolences for Max who I never thought would grow old. He always was smiling.
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Bill & Marion Sellers posted a condolence
Friday, April 22, 2022
To the families of Max
So sorry to hear of your loss, Max was a great guy.
Bill & Marion Sellers
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Bill & Doreen Wintemute posted a symbolic gesture
Friday, April 22, 2022
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Our sincere sympathy to the Demaray family-Max was our dear friend, helped with trips to London for Bill-he will be missed. RIP dear friend. Bill & Doreen Wintemute
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Tim and Dianne Collyer posted a condolence
Thursday, April 21, 2022
Sincere Sympathy to the Demaray family. Thinking of you as you mourn the loss and celebrate a life well lived.
Lots of good memories of Max during his council days and after. A good friend who made many contributions to Huron County over the years.
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Deb Ritchie posted a condolence
Thursday, April 21, 2022
Remembered as Jamestown's best ball coach. Great memories of Max rest with the Adams family... Debbie Ritchie
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Tim and Dianne Collyer donated to MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY OF CANADA / SOCIÉTÉ CANADIENNE DE LA SCLÉROSE EN PLAQUES
Thursday, April 21, 2022
Sincere Sympathy
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Jacquie Waechter lit a candle
Thursday, April 21, 2022
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A Memorial Tree was planted for Max Demaray
Thursday, April 21, 2022
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We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Riverside Funeral Home Brussels Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree
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The family of Max Demaray uploaded a photo
Thursday, April 21, 2022
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401 Albert Street Box 340
Brussels, Ontario
N0G 1H0
P: (519) 887-6336
riversidefuneralhome@hotmail.com
Riverside Funeral Home Blyth Chapel
407 Queen Street Box 199
Blyth, Ontario
N0M 1H0
P: (519) 523-4577
riversidefuneralhome@hotmail.com