Maxine Cecelia (McFarlane) Popovich Obituary
It is with extreme sadness that we had to say good bye to the greatest lady I knew. I will miss her smile, her laugh, her hugs and our daily phone calls. Maxine Cecelia Popovich (McFarlane) passed away peacefully in her sleep at 95 years old, April 12, 2025 at St. Mary’s Long-term Care, Trochu, Ab.
Maxine was born January 29, 1930 in Gainsboro, Saskatchewan to Cecil and Marie McFarlane, she was the middle of 3 girls. Her Dad moved the family to Alberta in 1936 to a farm near Drumheller. In 1940 the family moved to Drumheller, 1941 they moved to East Coulee, then back to Drumheller in 1948.
Before Maxine was married, she worked at various retail stores. After her marriage to Barney in 1952, she worked in the office at Trunkline doing bookwork to support Barney while he attended plumbing school. When Barney started Bigford & Popovich Plumbing, later Popovich Plumbing & Heating, Maxine did the books for their business for many years. She spent many summers at Fish Lake & Pine Lake and enjoyed travelling Canada, Europe, Caribbean, Mexico and Hawaii. Maxine was very involved in the Drumheller community where she lived and raised her family for 84+ years. She was the oldest member of the Drumheller chapter of the Beta Sigma Phi, and volunteered extensively in the community, which won her Citizen of the Year in 2012. She was an avid curler and golfer and she loved to dance since she was in her teens, as well as listen to big band music and music of the 40’s and 50s. She also spent much of her time singing, starting with harmonizing with her sisters and ending up singing in the Pioneer Trail choir. She was an awesome and supportive mom, grandmother and great-grandmother. Family was very important to her. She endured a lifetime of pain but never complained, she was a real ‘trooper’.
Maxine was predeceased by her husband Barney Popovich (2022), and her 2 sisters Doryce Repas and Marie Hume. She is survived by her 2 loving daughters Brenda Smith (Rod) and Sharon Hardy (Randy) and 6 grandchildren, Joshua Smith (Taabish Zaver) and Jordon Smith (Jace Thibault) Travis Hardy (Vicki), Kyle Hardy, Nathan Hardy and Taylor Hardy. She also has 5 great- grandchildren, Finley, Emmarie, Lochlann, Rowan, & Bronson Hardy, as well as her Step-son Warren Yavis (Linda, Chelsey, Chris, Colby, Emmerson, Paige & Presley) and numerous nieces & nephews.
We would like to thank St. Mary’s staff for the incredible care she was given during her stay with them as well as the Drumheller Health Centre. In lieu of flowers Mom has requested a donation to the Heart to Heart Society of Drumheller or the Canadian Cancer Society. There will be a private family gathering at a later date as she had her Celebration of Life along with Barney’s.
Though Maxine has departed this earthly realm, their legacy endures — a legacy of love that will continue to illuminate the lives of family and friends in the darkest of hours. May their spirit soar on wings of eternal peace, forever cherished in the tender embrace of memory.
