Madeline Casey Hendrigsman, 90

Madeline passed on April 7, 2011, at her home in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., of natural causes. Her youngest grandchild, Nate Kirchoff, (25) was at her bedside. “During her transition from this life to the next, he held one hand as God took her other hand.” He said, “She was pure love” and that’s how he’ll remember her.

Madeline Catherine was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on July 3, 1920, to Mary Emma “May” (Forker) and William Tucker. Her mother died when she was 18 months old. She was raised by her grandparents and beloved “Nana.”

She moved to Los Angeles in 1936 where she lived with her “sister” Harriette and Tim Marr. She graduated from John Marshall High School in 1939. She worked as a carhop after school.

She married Bruce L. Hedges in 1940 and they had a daughter, Cheryl Lee, in 1941. Bruce said, “She’s the most beautiful baby in the world.” He died from kidney disease 11 months later.

Madeline went to work at Douglas Aircraft. She married William J. Jones Jr., and he adopted Sherry. They then had three children, William Jefferson Jones III in 1944, Teresa Ann in 1946, and Madeline Catherine in 1947. The marriage ended in divorce in the early 1950s.

She met Edward J. Casey while working at Joni’s Supper Club. They married and had three children, Edward Paul in 1953, Laurette Jeanne in 1956, and Dorothy Jaye in 1957.

Ed introduced her to the United Church of Religious Science in 1953. In addition to Sunday services, she took many study courses for many years and became a licensed practitioner in 1965 at the Azusa Church. She was also very active in the Claremont Church as a junior church teacher of the young adults, from 1966 to 1976, then the church secretary, and later the wedding director.

After she and Ed divorced, she worked in the “rag business” selling specialty clothing at Jean’s Boutique in Glendora, Calif., and Eddie LeVine’s in Upland, Calif. She enjoyed helping women feel better about themselves when they found the right look for that special occasion.

She married Lester Hendrigsman in 1977 where they lived in San Dimas, Calif., and they had a rose garden, with yellow roses being her favorite.

She changed her profession and became a counselor with the National Council on Alcoholism for DWI offenders in Los Angeles County. She and Les divorced in 1987.

Immediately after retiring, she moved to Kalispell, in May 1993, to be around her children and grandchildren. They enjoyed many birthdays, weddings and holiday celebrations together.

Her home, family and friends were her hobbies. She loved to cook and shared meals with friends and neighbors. She rearranged furniture and her decor often and decorated for all the holidays. It was once stated, “It’s the grandma with all the pretty breakables on the phone,” by her great-granddaughter, Alexi Corbett. Her love of beauty was carried inside her home with a variety of violets and other houseplants.

She kept in touch with loved ones often, with letters, cards and thank you notes, sometimes enclosing current photos of the new look in her home. She maintained many lifelong friendships until loved ones died, which was her only complaint about living a long life.

She was preceded in death by a son-in-law, James Panariello, and grandson, Timothy Cockrell, in 1994; and a great-grandson, Steven J. Buller, in 2004.

She is survived by her children, Sherry Panariello of Kalispell, Bill Jones and Joni of Marion, Teresa “Cookie” and Bob McCandless of Haugen, Maddie Jones of Reno, Nev., Paul Casey and Barbara of Perris, Calif., Laurette and Paul Kirchoff of Kalispell, and D. Jaye Casey of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; 24 grandchildren, and 26 great-grandchildren; cousins in New Jersey, Florida and California; and a beloved spiritual family too numerous to name.

Cremation has taken place by the Cucamonga Mortuary.

A celebration of her life is planned for later this year.