Constance (Connie) Ann Madigan, age 72, passed away peacefully at the Gulf Coast Medical Center in Ft Myers, FL on Friday 19 Nov 21. She led a full, active, and exciting life. She was born in Munich, Germany (her parents Jack K. and Elinor A. Gilham were a US Army family stationed in Germany) on 1 Apr 1949. Connie was their firstborn and had that strength that firstborns are known for. Her sister Gail’s birth followed to complete the family. Her father Jack and mother Ann provided Connie and Gail a loving family environment in Colonel Gilham’s near 30 years of honorable and outstanding service.
While stationed in Germany again with her parents, Connie met and married US Army Captain Steve Cordon. They had Connie’s first child, son Sean, named after the great actor Sean Connery. Their marriage became troubled and they divorced after a few years. As a single parent she began her studies to be a Registered Nurse (RN) while living with her parents and son at Colonel Gilham’s home in Ft. Knox, KY. There she met her future husband Captain Doug Madigan on a blind date arranged by her parents and another Army Colonel, Sidney ‘Hap” Haszard and his wife Ann. It was love at first sight and they married on 14 Mar 1975. Connie completed her Associate’s Degree and became an RN. The newly married couple moved to Madison, WI where she worked as an RN and Doug went to graduate school at the University of Wisconsin. They met and became lifelong friends with three of Doug’s 1969 West Point classmates and wives, as well as graduates and wives from the West Point classes of 1965 and 1967. While in Madison their daughter Melissa (Missy) was born in 1976.
Next Connie and family moved to West Point for three years where Connie supported the Red Cross and was a fulltime mom with two kids. While there, Doug adopted Sean. Next came orders to Germany where Doug was the executive officer of an armored cavalry squadron and Connie continued to support the Red Cross and the squadron’s physician’s assistant. After two year they moved to Frankfurt, Germany where Connie continued to be a fulltime mom but also helping with the Red Cross. In 1983 they returned to the US where Doug was assigned to the Defense Mapping Agency in St Louis, MO. Connie and Doug both believed this assignment was providential. There they lived for 13 years and so many things happened: Doug’s 12 year old son Tony from his first marriage came to live with Connie and Doug; all three kids graduated form the same high school (pretty much unheard of for active duty military); Connie worked as a full time RN at a major hospital, at a mentally ill adult center, and lastly as an elementary school nurse running her ‘mini ER’; Doug retired from the Army and became a contractor ‘engineer’ supporting Army helicopter development programs. Then they moved to Huntsville, AL. There Connie told Doug she had retired from nursing and was ready to goof off since the kids had moved on. She had many friends there - playing in bridge groups was a favorite thing as was going on river and ocean cruises with Doug throughout Europe. The two of them always said they were blessed to have good health and the financial stability to do such fun and exciting things.
Connie was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) in Jan 21 which was soon followed by lymphedema in her right arm, a result of her breast cancer eight years previous. Connie and Doug were fortunate when they bought Doug’s parents home on a canal in the beautiful little island of Matlacha, FL in 2004. With the new medical diagnoses, Connie said it was time to sell their AL house and live full time in the little 1200 square foot home in FL. They were able to have a successful estate sale followed by a successful house sale and moved to be permanent FL residents 0n 9 Sep 21. Connie fought hard against the PD and lymphedema by physical and occupational therapy sessions, exercising at home, riding her cool recumbent bike, and doing exercises in the swimming pool. Connie and Doug joked about enjoying 46 years of ‘wedded bliss’. But God had His plan.
Connie had a massive stroke at 6AM on Wednesday 17 Nov 21. She stopped breathing in the ambulance and was put on life support. After receiving the anointing with oils and last rites from a Catholic priest at the ER, she was transferred to the ICU. The kids all arrived Thursday and we all had ample time to tell Connie everything we wanted to. We took her off life support that evening and spent all day with her Friday. As we were all leaving the hospital that evening, we said we love you and will be back in the morning. A doctor had told us that many times a patient will not let go until everyone leaves the room. After we were home for a little over an hour, Doug got the call that dear Connie Madigan passed away peacefully at 8:10PM.
Connie is survived by husband Doug Madigan; children Sean Madigan, Tony Madigan, and Missy Ehrenbeit and their spouses; cousins Drew Blazey and Frank Blazey; nine grandchildren; and many brothers in-law and sisters in-law; and nephews and nieces. She was a great lady, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend.
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