Obituaries

Rev. Madeline L. McDonald, Former Levittown Resident, Passes Away at 84

Rev. Madeline L. McDonald, 84, of Whitesboro, passed away at the Presbyterian Home of Central, NY on Nov. 7, 2013.

McDonald was born on Feb. 23, 1929 in Long Island City, NY, the daughter of Louis and Eugenie Neubauer Maertz. She was a graduate of William Cullen Bryant High School, and she had a BA in psychology and education from Adelphi University and a Masters of Divinity in Practical Theology from Union Theological Seminary.

Prior to her ordination, Madeline was employed as a Teacher in Early Intervention at United Cerebral Palsy. She married the love of her life, Russell W. McDonald on June 5, 1949 at St. Georges Church, Astoria, NY.

With her husband she raised her family and resided most of her life on Long Island in Islip, Levittown and Hauppauge, NY.

Rev. McDonald pastored small and large churches and coordinated the cooperative ministry of the Upper Catskill Larger Parish. After she retired from the NCNY conference Madeline served as interim pastor at Taberg, Lee and Maynard United Methodist Churches. In 1994, she assumed the responsibilities of Local Church Consultant for the Mohawk District. However, the work that was closest to her heart was the Prison Ministry at Walsh Medical Center and her involvement with David Kaczynski and New Yorkers for Alternatives to the Death Penalty.

Madeline is survived by her four cherished daughters, Susan (Steven) Montrose of Whitesboro, NY, Deborah (Donald)Frank of St. Louis, MO, Laura McDonald of Danvers, Mass. and Karen McDonald (Gary Frazer) of Herndon, VA. ; Eight grandchildren, Kate (Neil), Erin (Colin), Anna (Shumon), Peter, Jennifer, Christopher (Allison), Ian, Abby and two great grandchildren, Adeline and Darren; a sister-in-law Irene McDonald, Greenlawn, NY and godchildren Barbara (Randy) Gardner and Russell (Susan) Martilla.

A Memorial service will be Thursday, Nov. 14 at 4:00 pm at the Clinton United Methodist Church, with Rev. Jeff Hale and Rev. Myra Kazanjian officiating. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to a memorial fund in Rev. McDonalds name c/o Dimbleby, Friedel Williams & Edmunds Funeral Home, Whitesboro, 40 Main Street, Whitesboro, NY 13492. 


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