Maxine L. Trucano Mccurdy

Maxine L. Trucano McCurdy passed away quietly at her home in Billings, early Saturday morning, April 2, 2016, at the age of 90.

She and her identical twin sister Mildred were born on Nov. 28, 1925, to James and Adeline Visintainer Trucano on the homestead at Boyes. She and Mildred were delivered by their grandmother, Leona Barbero, the local midwife. At that time, Boyes was a community of predominately Catholic Italian families, and that heritage never left her. She and her older sister Kay, younger sister Linda and sister Mildred were educated at country schools and then attended high school in Broadus, with Maxine graduating from Broadus High School in 1943.

Maxine dated Neal McCurdy while in high school, and they were married shortly after he returned from service with the U.S. Navy in 1945. While Neal was overseas, Maxine taught school at Coalwood, Mont., and also spent time in Brighton, Colo., working for the telephone company. They resided in Washington, D.C., for a short period until they returned to Broadus and started their family. To this union were born a daughter, Diana; a son, Robert "Dave"; a second daughter, Jani; and, finally, a second son, Matthew.

Neal and Maxine and their young family lived in Broadus, where Neal eventually became Postmaster. In 1970, they moved to Hamilton, where Neal had transferred with the postal service. Neal was killed in a crash of a private plane just a few days after his retirement in September 1985, and, shortly thereafter, Maxine moved to Billings to be closer to her children and grandchildren.

While living in Hamilton and Billings, Mom volunteered as a tutor in the local elementary schools and, over the past 15 years, was a devoted volunteer at St. Vincent's Hospital and last year was recognized for her 20,000 hours of volunteer service to the hospital. In addition, she made sandwiches in great quantities each week and delivered them to St. Vincent DePaul.

Maxine was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Neal; her daughter, Jani; her daughter-in-law, Judy; her twin sister, Mildred; and brothers-in-law, Bill Sowers, John Latta and Joy Rogge.

She is survived by her sisters, Kay Latta of Billings and sister Linda of Broadus; daughter Diana (Francis) Edwards of Broadus; son Dave (Sheri) of Billings and son Matthew (Mary Jo) of Wheatridge, Colo. Also surviving her are her grandsons, Steve Edwards (Sarah) and their boys Alexander and Archer of Broadus, Robin McCurdy (Michele) and their daughters Madison, Thea and Else' of Missoula, Darren Edwards (Nicole) and their son Miles of Bozeman, Gregory Edwards of Los Angeles, Joe McCurdy (Jessica) and their son Jacob of Denver, Michael McCurdy of Tucson, Ariz., and Brian McCurdy (Anna) of Billings; her granddaughters, Jamie Higlin (Cole) and their daughters Micaela and McKensi of Bismarck, N.D., Jana Jablonski (Jon) and their daughter Madelyn and sons Ayden, Tayte and Karsyn of Bismarck, Amanda Feysa (Mike) and sons Connor, Jackson and Bennet of Alexandria, Va., and Lisa Pionke (Tom) and their daughter Joslyn and son Dylan. Maxine is also survived by step-grandchildren Mark Smith of Billings, his son Jeremy Smith of Billings and Brenda Smith of Reno, Nev.; Brad Smith and daughter Katie of Billings; and Crystal Nuno (Daniel) and daughter Alysa. Also surviving are her son-in-law Steve Morse of Billings and his son Nick and family.

The day before she died she was excited to hold, for the first time, her latest great-grandson Jacob McCurdy, and was eagerly awaiting the birth of two more great grandsons, Robert Duke to Brian and Anna and a second son to Darren and Nicole. She truly loved them all!

She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and their families, to include Jim Latta, Barbara Benish, Cele Frank, Mark Latta, Clark Sowers, Jill Sowers, Jody O'Leary, Lyle Rogge, Don Rogge, Bruce Rogge, Brent Rogge, Richard Shamley, Joyce Edwards and Judy Shamley, Barbara Keil, Sandy O'Dell, Mary Jane Rogge, Beverly Hagen and Valerie Barry.

The family wishes to express their Thanks to Dr. Fitterer and his staff as well as to the wonderful ladies at the Coumadin Clinic. They treated Maxine with dignity, respect and wonderful consideration.

There will be a vigil at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 6, at St. Thomas Catholic Church on Colton Avenue in Billings. Cremation has taken place and she will be interred at a later date at the National Cemetery in Sturgis, S.D., alongside Neal.

In lieu of flowers, Maxine wished for donations to be made to St. Vincent de Paul or the charity of your choice.