1936 - 2023
No Vistitation Date Scheduled
Funeral
April 25, 202310 A.M.
St. Mary Cemetery, Tewksbury
Madeline L. Keyes, born August 3, 1936 in Lowell, Massachusetts to James L. and Madeline T. (Hamelin) Whalen, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2023. She was the eldest of thirteen children.
Born and raised in Lowell and Billerica where she attended local schools, and graduated from Keith Hall in Lowell.
She moved to Chelmsford in 1965 and raised her family in the home she loved. She worked hard her entire life and still found time to be active in her community, having volunteered at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Lowell and at the polls in Chelmsford for many years.
In the early years, Madeline enjoyed trips to the beach with her young children, leaving home with $5.00 in her pocket, spending the day at Hampton, keeping two kids fed and happy all day, and returning home with $1.50 in change.
In her later years, she was happy watching the birds outside her kitchen window. She was kind and generous and loved her family.
Proud of her Irish heritage and fiercely independent, she lived on her own in the house she loved to the very end, just as she wanted!
Her family includes a son, Richard Keyes and his wife, Cynthia, of Wilton, NH and a daughter, Marybeth Keyes of Hollis, NH. Her surviving sisters are Ann Marie Cahill and husband Walter of Lowell, Kathleen Therrien-Balch of Derry, NH, and Gail Coleman and husband Walter of Salem, NH. She is also survived by two brothers, Robert and wife Frances of Lowell and Joseph of Lowell, and many nieces and nephews. Madeline also leaves behind her cherished friend, Charles Windheim.
She was predeceased by her siblings, James, John, Sister James Madeline SND, and, Theresa Morin, Nancy Jennings, Elizabeth and Dennis and her lifelong friend, Joan Weilbrenner. She was also very fortunate to have several exceptionally kind neighbors including, Kevin and Tracy Garthe, Gregg Lewis and family and Kathy and Edward Pilarski.
A graveside service will be held Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 10AM at St. Mary Cemetery, Tewksbury. ARRANGEMENTS BY DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 978-251-4041. Guestbook at www.dolanfuneralhome.com.