Maxine Gunoff

It is with heavy hearts we share the passing of our mother, Maxine Gunoff who passed away peacefully on Friday, June 7th, 2024, at Bow View Manor in Calgary, Alberta. 

She is lovingly remembered by her children, Marla, Clark (Rose), Brent and Jana (Ron); grandchildren, Jesse, James, Erin, Lisa, Wade, Cody, Courtney, Kyle (Julie), Tyler (Tori),  and Sydney (Sean); great grandchildren, Mason, Hannah, Luke, Harlyn, Henry. 

Maxine was predeceased by her loving husband of 69 years Richard Alexander "Dick" Gunoff; mother, Pearl Rhoda MacDonald (nee Wade)-(Sadler); father, George Edward Cecil MacDonald; step-father, Lemanuel Sadler; brother, Cameron MacDonald; sisters, Lorraine Greene, and Karen Simmons.

Maxine was born August 16th, 1932, in D’Arcy Saskatchewan. She met and married the love her life, Richard "Dick" Gunoff. They married in 1952 in Kindersley, Saskatchewan, then moved to Santa Barbara, California, then Joshua Tree while husband Dick joined Walt Disney Productions as a cameraman. They move back to Kindersley, then to Kelowna to raise their four children. Maxine kept busy while the family were growing up doing part time work and community projects. She took part in several Gilbert and Sullivan Productions with the local theatre groups while also working part time. When her youngest was 12, Maxine returned full time as a customer representative with the British Columbia Telephone Company in Kelowna, B.C. and retired in 1993.

Maxine loved to paint with oils and loved to sing. Her history with singing goes back to day one where seven Kelowna women gathered in her basement to sing Barbershop Harmony. Within a couple of years, the group had grown to 19 and Maxine coordinated the chartering of the chorus with Sweet Adelines International. While studying its early history, you will find her ‘fingerprint’ on many aspects of the White Sails Chorus, but most significantly as director. She found time as well to quartet and was a member of Kelowna’s first internationally registered Quartet, the Jet Liners. Later Maxine, her sister Lorraine and brother-in-law Merv along with her husband Dick performed locally in a family band called “The Double G’s.”  They volunteered most Friday evenings and played to the residents of Kelowna senior facilities. She loved to give back to the community volunteering at Interior Health and with Telus Retirees.

Maxine had a passion for literature and history. She also enjoyed playing golf, ukulele and travelling.

After Dick passed away Maxine moved to Calgary to be closer to her daughters Jana and Marla. Maxine’s wishes in life were for all her children to be independent and happy and she always insisted on having a view from her window no matter where she was.

A Celebration of Life will take place at First Memorial Funeral Services in Kelowna, BC on Friday, August 23, 2024 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers a charitable donation can be made to your charity of choices.