Madeleine Rose McNamee

Madeleine McNamee passed away peacefully at her home in White Rock, BC on November 5^th, 2021. Her last few hours and moments of her life were spent in the company of her children and caregivers, and all who knew her are grateful for the time they shared with this beautiful, generous, spirited, and gentle soul.

Madeleine Rose Audette was born on August 26, 1925, in Longueuil, Quebec, the fifth eldest of fourteen children. The Audettes were a close family, but the adventurous and independent Madeleine left the family home in 1953, coming to Surrey, BC to marry the love of her life, James McNamee. The couple had met two years before on a blind date in Montreal, and then spent two years writing love letters to each other across the country before she made her move. Madeleine and James started their family soon after they settled in Surrey and had five children together. Madeleine was completely dedicated to her family and worked hard throughout her life, especially once the family moved to a farm in South Surrey, growing vegetables and fruit, raising chickens, sheep and cattle, and splitting firewood well into her seventies. One of the ways Madeleine shared her love for her family was through cooking. She was a very gifted, creative and adventurous chef, and took delight in learning to cook dishes from all around the world. All members of her family have fond memories of Madeleine’s amazing meals and proud announcements that all the food on the table was grown on the family farm, as it very often was.

Madeleine and James embarked on a long and fulfilling retirement in 1989, in which they travelled extensively, continued to work on their farm, and enjoyed their large and growing family. After James passed away on November 6^th, 2020, Madeleine continued to live in her family home and was cared for by family members and her friend and caregiver, Janine. Throughout the final year of her life, Madeleine continued enjoying the company of her family, welcoming all visitors to her home, greeting them in French, listening to music, and watching baseball games. In her final weeks, one of her greatest delights was the company of her great-grandchildren. Madeleine is survived by four of her sisters, Denise, Therese, Monique and Cecile, her five children, Peter, John, Mary, Anne and Joseph, 17 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

We are eternally grateful to all the caregivers who looked after Madeleine in the final year of her life, enabling her to live out her life in dignity and in the familiar comfort of her home.

Funeral Mass is to be held at Good Shepherd Parish in Surrey on November 23 at 11:00. A comforting thought that Madeleine returned to frequently in her last year of life was that her final resting place would be beside her James at St. Peter’s Cemetery in New Westminster. We are grateful for the life of Madeleine and James, and thankful that their souls are now reunited and at rest.