Maxine Carol Rajala
Maxine Carol Rajala (nee Herrlinger) passed peacefully from this life on April 1, 2025, at the age of 95, surrounded by loved ones.
She was born on February 15, 1930, in Dovray, Minnesota, the 3rd of 5 children to Ella and Max Herrlinger. She grew up on a farm, learning umpteen ways to make mischief. She went on to graduate from college with a teaching credential and taught 3rd grade for 6 years. Those years were only the beginning of her life-long teaching of others, including the art of caring and kindness.
She met her husband to be, A.I. (Raj) Rajala, at a bowling tournament in Grand Rapids, MN. They were married December 3, 1955 and had 6 children in as many years. The family moved to the Twin Cities in 1962 and eventually settled in Santa Barbara, CA in 1968. Maxine dedicated her life to family, and by extension, their friends, welcoming one and all. She kept expanding the circle to include many more, opening her home to friends and many college students needing a place to stay.
With her gift of hospitality and fun-loving, often sassy sense of humor, she made many lifelong friends. We are all the richer for having her in our lives. We love you, Mom.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Raj, sister Gene Monson and brother Roger Herrlinger. She is survived by her sisters Joyce Brummond and Greta Motzko; her children, Susie Reichel (Rick), Cathy Sanders, Mary Ann Hanley (Bruce), Willie Rajala (Lisa), Carol Johnson (Craig), and Nancy Miskel; as well as 15 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Special thanks to Assisted Home Care and all her caregivers, especially the most recent, Mark, Martha and Andres, whose compassion and caring were invaluable to us all and allowed her to remain in her own home.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 1pm at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church at 909 N. La Cumbre Rd, in Santa Barbara. Reception to follow in the Church Fellowship Hall.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of Maxine’s favorite charities for hungry children and for preservation of wildlife.
