March 24, 1930 – Octover 25, 2023
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Madelyn Fox; beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Madelyn passed away peacefully at AgeCare Midnapore in Calgary, Alberta on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 with her daughter, Janet, by her side.
Madelyn/Mum/Nani/Maddie will be deeply missed by her birth daughters, Janet and Margaret, and chosen daughter, Ann; grandchildren Jeremy, Ryan and Erin; and great grandchildren Travis, Sophia and Maddie. Madelyn will also be missed by her surviving sisters, Sandra and Margaret; surviving sister-in-law, Audrey, and brothers-in-law, Gerry and Wayne; “adopted” grandchildren, Sean, Kelly, Chrystal and Tiffany; many nieces and nephews; extended family members; and numerous friends. Madelyn’s cherished dogs, Pam and Molly, will miss snuggling up in her arms or lap for some love and the more recent rides in her wheelchair.
Madelyn was predeceased by her beloved husband, Lloyd; son-in-law, Eddie; parents, Moses and Muriel; brother, Doug; sister, Ruth; and brother-in-law, Donald. She was also predeceased by her loving pets Shelagh, Murphy, Sam and Amy.
Madelyn was born on March 24, 1930 to Moses and Muriel Burden in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She was the second of five children and was raised in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia until the age of 17, when her family moved to Calgary, Alberta. After high school, she attended Henderson Business College and then worked in the telegraph department at Canadian Pacific (CP), where she met the love of her life, Lloyd. Madelyn and Lloyd were married in December 1952 in Calgary on a beautiful sunny day. Lloyd enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy and Madelyn and Lloyd moved to Victoria, B.C. After a short time in the Navy, Lloyd transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force, which led to postings in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and northern Alberta. After leaving the military, Lloyd, Madelyn and their two daughters lived in Edmonton for six years and in 1970, they moved back to Calgary. Madelyn gracefully handled all the challenges that came along with frequent moves and unselfishly made each new house a comfortable, secure and loving home for her family.
After moving back to Calgary, Madelyn returned to the work force. She took a job in a flower shop where she discovered her lifelong passion for making flower arrangements. She eventually moved to a different job at the University of Calgary’s Medical School but continued her hobby of making silk and dried flower arrangements throughout the next fifty years. During her time at the “Med school”, Madelyn worked as the assistant to the Dean, where she gained the friendship, respect and love of many of the medical students, some of whom maintained contact with her even after she retired. Madelyn had great memories of the fun times she shared with her med student friends, including the times she played her autoharp in their Bluegrass band.
After retirement, Madelyn and Lloyd moved to Creston, B.C. where they spent eighteen happy years and created countless treasured memories with visiting family and friends. Madelyn’s grandchildren still talk about Nani’s delicious turkey omelettes and the yummy waffles she made, along with all the fun toppings she would lay out for them to add.
Shortly after moving to Creston, Madelyn and Lloyd expanded their family with the adoption of their collie, Shelagh. On Madelyn’s 65th birthday, her family gave her the gift of her first Yorkshire Terrier, Murphy. Before long, Madelyn fell in love with another Yorkie and Sam joined the family. After Murphy and Sam passed, Madelyn adopted a rescued Yorkie named Amy and after Amy passed, came Pam and Molly. Anyone who knew Madelyn can attest to the strong love she had for her Yorkies, and for all animals.
While in Creston, Lloyd and Madelyn were heavily involved with the Shriners and Daughters of the Nile organizations. They enjoyed many fun events and trips with their lodge brothers and sisters and devoted many hours to fund raising for the Shriners Hospitals for Children. It was Madelyn’s lodge friends that started calling her “Maddie”, a nickname that stuck from then on. It was also in Creston that Madelyn discovered clog dancing, and introduced it to her daughters and sisters. This brought Madelyn many years of fun times learning new dances and traveling to workshops with her clogging family and friends. Madelyn continued clogging until the age of 89 and was an inspiration to many on the dance floor.
In 2006, Lloyd and Madelyn moved to Claresholm to be near family in Calgary. During their nine years together in Claresholm, they made many new friends and were blessed with great neighbors. Madelyn continued to be a great advocate for clogging and was instrumental in starting a clogging group in Claresholm. Madelyn continued living in Claresholm for six years after losing Lloyd in 2015. She loved spending time in her backyard tending to her beautiful flower gardens. Madelyn also loved visits from her family members, socializing with friends and neighbors, clogging, music, watching curling on TV, and of course, cuddling with her pups.
In 2021, Madelyn moved back to Calgary due to health issues and in July 2022, she moved into the AgeCare Midnapore Long Term Care facility, where she lived until she passed away after contracting COVID.
Madelyn was a spirited, sociable and passionate woman who loved her family intensely. She was a hard-working, strong-minded woman who steadfastly stood by her beliefs. She had a quick wit and a great sense of humour. She and Lloyd were known for their warm hospitality and loved to drink wine and laugh with their friends and family. Madelyn always made sure everyone had more to eat than they really wanted. Madelyn’s strength, tenacity, capacity for love and zest for life will be fondly remembered by all who knew and loved her.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves memories no one can steal.
It was Madelyn’s wish that no funeral or celebration of life be held and that her ashes be scattered. An open house at the home of her daughter will be scheduled at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Madelyn’s memory to either of the following charities:
Child Services Society of Shriners Hospitals for Children: #102, 4238 Lozells Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5A 0C4 [https://www.bcshriners.com]
Alzheimer Society of Calgary: #800, 7015 Macleod Trail, SW, Calgary, AB T2H 2K6 [https://www.alzheimercalgary.ca/].
To view and share photos, condolences and memories of Madelyn please visit www.choicememorial.com.