Jane Ellen Maddalon
Our mother, Jane Ellen Maddalon, passed away peacefully at home on February 11, 2024, surrounded by the love of family, having attained over 99 yrs of a very good life. Her early years were spent on the wrong side of the tracks (she would wryly recount) in Minneapolis, MN. However, despite early hardships (depression years, loss of a sister and her mother at a young age), there was love there; and she and her two brothers, Tom Cormier and Bob Cormier, and one sister, Pat Super, all grew up to make enduring marriages, to have good careers, and to raise treasured families.
Mom was valedictorian of her high school class, and went on to graduate the prestigious nursing program at Swedish Hospital in Minnesota. She had decided at an early age to become a career gal – that is until our dashing Italian-raised and -accented, handsome father, a US Army veteran of WWII, returned from war and swept her off her feet, requesting her hand in marriage on their third date. Their marriage lasted 70 years until dad’s passing at age 104 in 2020.
Mom’s early career at SB Cottage Hospital was as head nurse caring for mothers and new babies. When her own children were born, she left work to be an asset as a mom, scout leader (cubs and brownies), much-loved Sunday School teacher, and all around solid neighborhood mom, running a casual household, always with a bowl of fruit on the table and an open refrigerator policy, and where neighborhood kids were welcomed. Both mom and dad grew up hungry in the depression years: mom in the midwest bible belt, where her own mother set the example, always ready with a sandwich for any tramp who came hungry to the back door, and dad in Europe, under Mussolini. If dad were home from work, it was impossible to get past him without hearing, are you hungry? Come in, come in! Eat! No one was ever made to feel unwelcome, or left hungry, in the Maddalon home.
Mom was the salt-of-the-earth, humble and matter-of-fact. She spent her life being of quiet service to others, no fanfare wanted. She was a passionate and involved member of the Trinity Lutheran Church congregation, along with our father (who was converted from Catholicism by mom’s positive faith). Later in life she became the front office volunteer and friendly face at Recording for the Blind, where she refused to accept a salary until, twenty years in, they threatened to lock the door when they saw her coming if she wouldn’t accept that salary!! Also in her latter years, she spent many hours each week lovingly constructing beautiful quilts for charities such as Blankets for Linus and Lutheran Missions, and taught a popular, enjoyable weekly Bible class at TLC.
In the twilight years of her life she was able to stay in her home with the love and support of her family. Jane was predeceased by her husband, James Maddalon, and sadly also by her son James William Maddalon (1950-2017). She is survived by her loving daughter-in-law Joyce Maddalon of North Carolina (widow of James Wm), grandchildren Aubrey (Steve Rogers) and Brian Maddalon, and three great-grandchildren, Tessa, Avery and Keaton, all of North Carolina – the many photographs of those cute kids sent from NC over the years were always the highlights of mom’s week; son John Paul Maddalon and daughter-in law Denise Maddalon, who took amazing care of mom these last few years, and their sons, Anthony, Thomas and Joseph, who also stepped up to keep mom and dad safe at home; along with daughter Joan Maddalon, and grandchildren and frequent loving visitor Anna Guerrero (Matt Levash) and Benjamin Greenspon, also of Santa Barbara. Mom’s unconditional love and support is a deep part of all of us.
A simple service will be held in Jane’s honor at the church home she and dad helped to build, and so loved, Trinity Lutheran Church on upper La Cumbre Road, this Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., the wonderful Pastor Mark officiating. All are welcome to spend an hour celebrating the good life of Jane Maddalon at the church. Coffee and cookies in the sanctuary following services. Of course, donations to TLC are always welcome, supporting the church’s generous and constant commitment to community service and outreach.