A NURSES PRAYER
Lord please help me to bring comfort where there is pain, courage where there is fear, hope where there is despair, acceptance when the end is near and a touch gentle with tenderness, patience and love.

Maxine Louise Larzelere Ramsdell passed away on Sunday, January 15, 1917 at Cedar Community in West Bend WI. She was born in Dowagiac, MI to Addie and Arthur Larzelere on May 6th of 1913.

Maxine was always a dedicated nurse and took great pride in being a RN. She excelled in everything she attempted to do. It was her nature to give everything in life her best and no matter what life gave her she faced it head on. Right up to her death at 103 she gave it all she had.

She graduated from Dowagiac High School in Dowagiac, MI in 1930. After high school she attended and graduated from Parsons Business School in Kalamazoo, MI where she won awards for her typing and shorthand skills. After graduation she worked at Upjohn Pharmaceutical Company as a private secretary. Her following positions as a secretary were working in doctors' offices. One being the famed Dr. Stryker, Orthopedic Surgeon and inventor, in Kalamazoo, MI.

After being exposed to the medical field, she knew her calling was to become a nurse. She ultimately graduated from Foote Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Jackson, MI. During her career as an RN she worked in several areas of hospital nursing. Her favorites were surgery and obstetrics. She then worked for many years for a physician in Jackson where she spent many dedicated hours as his receptionist, secretary, nurse and surgical assistant. They did not work by appointment, but from the hour the first patient arrived until the last patient left which could be into the late evening.

Her most important nursing positions were caring for two husbands. James Munro who died of cancer and Philip Ramsdell who died of Alzheimers, both were from Jackson, MI. Prior to becoming a nurse she also took care of her mother at home who died of breast cancer. Maxine had a quick wit and sense of humor. She loved to dance, golf, fish, garden and take care of her home. In her younger days she was quite an equestrian and always had a love for horses. She had a well rounded life.

She will be greatly missed by her loving daughter, Barbara(Paul) Baudhuin of Slinger and loving stepdaughter, Lucie Ramsdell of Saline MI. and stepson Homer (Kris) Ramsdell of Manistee MI. She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren, Bradley (Kelly) Dohm, Amy (Jim) Kohlhardt, Michelle (Dan) Kerska, Tracey (Pete) Hellawell, Jennifer Breitenwischer, Becky (Toby) Jones and Christopher Ramsdell. Along with many great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. She loved and cared about each and every one.

She was preceded in death not only by her parents but her sisters. Eulalia (Howard) Kirby, Annette (George) Edwards and Jean (Ed) Hansen. Other relatives and many good friends.

Many thanks to her caregivers at Cedar Bay East who for 11-1/2 years she always kept on their toes with her humor and nursing tips. They gave her wonderful loving care to the end and are a very special group! Thanks also to Cedar Hospice and Cedar Home Care who took wonderful care of her for two years and made it possible for her to stay in her apartment until she passed. Especially Sara, Sandie & Jill. Also, many thanks to St James Episcopal Church in West Bend and the individuals who visited and brought her communion on Sundays for many years.

A private service will be held at a later date. Internment of cremains will be at Wisconsin Memorial Park in Milwaukee, WI. Any donations could be made to St James Church in West Bend.