Pines Village resident profile: Maxine Philips

Volunteering has always defined Maxine Philips.

“I have to feel like I’m contributing,” says the energetic septuagenarian whose families have contributed so much to the Valparaiso area.

Her great, great grandfather served in the American Revolution which spurred Maxine to become a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, where she is now serving as regent for the local Chapter.

While serving as president of the Porter County Council of Church Women, Maxine’s mother, Mary E. Bartz, helped found Whispering Pines Health Care Center.  Because the endeavor to create such a nursing care facility in Valparaiso was so important to her mother, Maxine today serves as treasurer for the Porter County Council of Church Women.

At First Christian, Disciples of Christ Church, Maxine has served as deacon, elder, treasurer and trustee.  These days she leads the church’s Christian women’s fellowship group.

With the Indiana sorority Tri Kappa, she has been president of two chapters -- the Iota chapter that does most of the hands-on work, and later the Beta chapter comprised of emeritus members.

For 25 years Maxine volunteered at then Porter Memorial Hospital serving as president of the hospital auxiliary and director of the coffee and gift shop overseeing the paid employees.

And she has also served as a chapter J president of PEO (Philanthropic Education Organization), and served as secretary to the International President of PEO.

The extensive involvement in her community reflects the deep ties she has here.

Maxine’s grandfather settled just east of the city in the 1870s, in the area of Washington Township bisected by the modern road that bears his name, Bartz Road. Her parents owned Home Ice Company and  Clover Leaf Dairy, who made “Valpo Velvet” ice cream.  Fred Bartz operated the ice, milk and ice cream businesses until 1947 when it was sold to Herb Brown.

After graduating from Valparaiso High School and completing a year at Indiana University, Maxine married Phil Philips.  Phil taught school, worked at Midwest Steel and spent 22 years in the appliance business. 

While staying home to raise three children, Maxine took evening classes and received her BS in education.  “My father insisted his daughters have a way to support themselves in case it became necessary,” she says.  In 1988 Maxine went to work at Health and Oncology and remained for the next 20 years. 

A few years after her husband’s and sister’s deaths, Maxine moved to Pines Village.  Although it was not easy to leave the house she’d lived in for so long, she also didn’t like being alone. 

“I did not want to be a burden to my children,” she says. “They were always concerned when I was in my house.”

Now that she’s at Pines Village, she’s eating better while doing a lot less cooking, thanks to the meals served in the sun-filled dining room.

Maxine plays bridge and euchre with fellow residents and has even taken to newer technologies.  She’s hooked on computer games like solitaire, so much so that she feels lost without them.

“If the computer goes down, it’s like my arm is gone,” she says.

And of course Maxine continues her tradition of volunteerism at her new home.  She is on the Pines Village resident council and she serves as a corridor representative.

She is grateful for her new friends and for the community they share.

“It’s just a wonderful place to live,” Maxine says.  “Pines Village has made me feel like an independent person.” 

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We Celebrate Life is a collection of portraits, in words and photographs, of just some of the wonderful, extraordinary people who live, work and serve Pines Village Retirement Communities. View more >