FINCH, Madeline Louise (Duranleau) - b. January 29, 1923 - d. March 18, 2013

[patyrn]

Madeline Louise Finch died at her home in Auburn, California on March 18, 2013.  She was 90 years old.  Her children were all with her in her last days.  Madeline was born January 29, 1923 in Westfield, Vermont to Georges and Yvonne Duranleau.

With her brothers, Robert, Roger, and Lawrence, she spent her childhood on her family's dairy farm.  She attended Vermont public school and graduted from Johnson State Teachers College with a teacher's certificate in 1941.  She returned to Westfield after her graduation and taught in the rural one-room-school that she had once attended.

In 1943, she enlisted in the WAVES and served for three years as a yeoman, attaining the rank of Chief Yeoman in 1945.  While serving in Washington, D.C., she met the one love of her life, Francis Finch, who was a veteran of World War II.  They were married in 1947 and made their home in the Hyattsville, Maryland area for the next 18 years.  They had five children while living in Maryland.  They moved to Lowell, Vermont where they lived until 1973 when they moved to rural Severy, Kansas.

Madeline was born and raised Catholic, and she and Francis were active member of Sacred Heart Church in Eureka, Kasnas for many years.  After her husband's death, Madeline remained in Severy, caring for her mother until shortly before Yvonne's death at 103 years old.  Madeline then spent the next six years living near or with her daughters in Kansas, Colorado, and California.

In each place that was home, Madeline created a loving and welcoming space for her family and friends.  She was a natural gardener, cultivating prolific vegetable gardens and colorful flower beds wherever she found herself.  She took her mothering role very seriously.  When her children were growing up, never a day went by that she did not have a warm meal ready for dinner followed by a homemade dessert.  She was fiercely loyal to her family and selfless in her devotion to them.

Madeline cherished each of her 14 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.  She was beloved by her many nieces and nephews.  Madeline was a lover of words.  She was raised speaking French and continued to speak it fluently throughout her life.  She was also an avid Scrabble player.  She and Francis participated in Scrabble tournaments when they lived in Kansas, and they spent many happy hours playing the game together.  Though she had not a competitive bone in her body, when Madeline was in a Scrabble game, she showed no mercy, even with the children.

Madeline had a creative side that she mostly kept hidden from others.  She taught herself to paint, to play the piano and guitar, and she loved to dance.  She had a curious mind and remained interested in current events until her passing.  She was open-minded and always ready to listen to the opinions of others and was always kind in her speech.  Her dignity and grace was an inspiration to the people who were lucky enough to have been a part of her life.

Madeline is survived by four children: Yvonne Finch (Michael Cote) of Grand Junction, Colorado, Denise Finch (Dan Jorgensen) of Auburn, California, Madeline Finch (Hugh Janney) of Sacramento, California, and Thomas Finch (Shirley Temple) of Wichita, Kansas; 13 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; and one brother, Paul Duranleau (Faye) of Moline, Kansas.  She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Francis, who died in 1991; her granddaughter, Adrienne; and her eldest son, Phillip, who died last year.

Memorial services are to be held on May 18, 2013 at Sacred Heart Church in Eureka, Kansas with the time to be announced later.

(published in the Prairie Star - 4/10/2013)