Maxine Chamberlain, 83

Maxine Chamberlain, 83, a longtime resident of Coeur d'Alene, passed away Wednesday, October 29th at home, with the aid and comfort from the great people of Hospice of North Idaho.

Maxine was well known to many people as the Head E.R. Clerk at what was then Kootenai Memorial Hospital. She was well trained for the hectic life in an emergency room. She raised 4 boys and 2 girls with four being in diapers at the same time and 4 of them boy-girl twins. All became graduates of the Coeur d'Alene High School.

Maxine was born in Fossil Oregon March 31, 1931 to Katherine Anderton and her Father "Red" Anderton. She graduated from The Dalles High school in Oregon. Her siblings are brother Bill Anderton living in Kansas City and her older sister Carolyn Romjue who lived Oregon. It was a lifelong bonding of two sisters that showed as Carolyn's name was the one Maxine called for the most in her later stages of Alzheimer's.

Maxine was well known for her loud Baritone voice that would carry across the many baseball and football fields. However, it was her two-fingered whistle that brought home her kids spread out playing in the Gittle's Grocery area. That loud whistle would bring everyone back, usually with a friend or two. Dinners were always big at the Chamberlain House.

Maxine was also a Secretary of the Local AFL-CIO in Coeur d'Alene in the 60-70's. She was also an actress in two plays at the Coeur d'Alene Community Theatre. She had co-starring roles in the "Girls in 509" with her husband Neil who worked for Kootenai Electric. Later in life she was a main character as the maid in "Night must Fall." Her two youngest boys David and Dean setup and ran the lights and sound for her performance in "Night Must Fall."

Denise, who is the youngest girl, stayed and took care of Maxine and was a constant companion through the years. Denise's twin brother Dennis has recently moved back to the area so was able to be with her in her last few days. Don "ROHO" Chamberlain lives in the area and Donna Williams, now of Tucson, provided the first of many, many granddaughters to Maxine.

Her granddaughters; Michelle Wilson and Brianne Cosman of Arizona and Jennifer Bruce from Pennsylvania. They are the daughter of Donna Williams of Tucson Arizona. Amy Chamberlain who is finishing a master's degree in England, and her sister Alison are children of Dennis and Betsy.

Dean, Maxine's youngest, has two daughters. Kate who lives in Spokane, and the other Laura, an up and coming New York actress, studying at LIU Post in Brooklyn New York.

The youngest granddaughter of Maxine's is Robin who spent many years being cared and nurtured by Maxine and Denise for her son David. Robin Chamberlain is a junior and a cheerleader for the CHS Vikings.

Maxine's great-grandchildren are Calli, Ainsley, Annabel, Gwen, Reese, and Bridget with the first boy Conner rounding out the newest generation.

Maxine was a loving owner of a very bushy Pomeranian, whom she cherished as one of her own in her later years. Maxine requested that her dog "Sherman Alexander" or Little-bit for short.

Please join us at 10am Saturday Nov. 8th for a remembrance of an amazing woman, at Yates Funeral Home on 4th Street in Coeur d'Alene Idaho.

Instead of flowers please donate to North Idaho Hospice or Alzheimer research.