Wendy Ann Maxfield

Wendy Ann Maxfield, 62, passed away peacefully on July 3, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.

The youngest of five siblings, she and her twin brother Bill were born on August 24, 1961 in Warwick, RI to Marjory Girvan Maxfield and Richard Maxfield. They and their older siblings Polly, Dick and Jim, grew up in Warwick.

Working as a typesetter, Wendy paid her own way through college, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Boston University’s School of Communication. Early jobs included Production Manager of The Tab Newspapers in Newton, MA, and Managing Editor of the Ziff-Davis publication, PC Week, in Medford, MA.

In 1987 she married Thomas S. Howes of Slingerlands, NY. They made their home in Littleton, MA where they raised their two children, Maxfield Thomas Howes and Lucy Cushman Howes.

Wendy was a long-time member of the West Acton Baptist Church, in West Acton, MA. She served as Assistant to the Executive Minister, American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts and as Executive Secretary for the Massachusetts Baptist Charitable Society. She continued to work until her retirement in September of 2023. 

Wendy was a fierce advocate for her beliefs but was also able to see common goals and shared objectives. She treasured her church and work relationships and missions.

An enthusiastic reader with a wide range of interests, Wendy found comfort in mysteries and anything that Dick Francis ever wrote. In her family, Wendy was legendarily skilled at crossword puzzles and a lightning-quick respondent to Jeopardy clues.

Wendy is survived by her husband, Thomas S. Howes; their two children, Maxfield T. Howes and Lucy Cushman Tran; and her siblings Polly M. Miller of Goodyear, AZ, Richard Maxfield of Longmont, CO, James F. Maxfield of Warwick, RI and William A. Maxfield of Houston, TX.

There will be an informal memorial service for Wendy at the West Acton Baptist Church in West Acton, MA at 2pm on Saturday, July 20th. Please come tell your Wendy stories!

Donations can be made to the West Acton Baptist Church either via Tithe-ly online at https://westactonbaptistchurch.org/online-giving/ or by check to WABC or West Acton Baptist Church, or send to WABC Admin, West Acton Baptist Church, 592 Massachusetts Avenue, Acton, MA 01720. Also, if you can, bring a canned good for the West Acton Baptist Church food pantry with you. A photo of the drop off location can be found below in the photo gallery.