Madeline Ann Williams

Madeline Ann (Buckley) Williams of Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2024, at the age of 102. She was blessed with a very long life and a very brief illness. Born in Brockton, MA, to Thomas Buckley and Madeline McGlincy Buckley on November 20, 1921, she was raised there surrounded by a community of Irish American characters who worked hard in the many local shoe factories that had made boots for soldiers in the Civil War and World War I. A few others worked in the local shovel works that helped build the American railroads. These folks loved to laugh and sing and gossip.

After graduating high school in 1939 she joined the Boston Dispensary, which provided blood for local hospitals and trained her to be a phlebotomist. These were great days for her as she mastered a skill and met two colleagues who remained her closest friends for life until their passing. As an essential worker during World War II, she had few limits on her gasoline consumption and was able to transport family and friends to their jobs in Boston.

She married John Williams in 1949. Shortly thereafter he was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army during the Korean War and she joined him for 6 months, crossing the Atlantic on the newly minted ship SS Liberté. It was the most adventurous time of her life and included meeting Pope Pius XII in Rome when he requested that American soldiers and spouses come to the front of the auditorium.

By the middle 1950s she was again in Brockton raising her own family, an occupation that brought her much happiness. As well as being a doting mother willing to drive her son and daughter to their weekly activities, she was a Cub Scout leader and teacher of the Catholic Catechism. Later, as empty nesters, the couple moved to East Dennis on their beloved Cape Cod. Ten years later Madeline relocated to Needham, MA, where her four grandchildren began arriving in the world. These were joyful years.

At the age of 96, with her family no longer in Needham, Madeline moved to Grosse Pointe Farms to spend the next six years living with her daughter and generous son-in-law. Her chores were greatly reduced, she had companionship and made new friends, and she was suddenly in the midst of her son-in-law’s large and loving family, the Smiths, Hannemans, and Lazarskis.

Over the years she read voraciously both fiction and nonfiction, and loved the ballet, classical music, Cape Cod, lobster, and especially her grandchildren. She also loved a good belly laugh.

Madeline was the faithful wife of John who predeceased her in 1998. She leaves her son Jay (Nancy) Williams of Manhattan, NY, daughter Katie Williams (Michael Smith) of Grosse Pointe Farms, and her beloved grandchildren Maddie Williams (fiancé Ian Murrhee) of Sarasota, FL, Nick Williams of Sarasota, Tom Williams of Watertown, MA, and Peter Williams (partner Jason Carroll) of Brooklyn, NY. She also leaves dear nieces and a nephew: Rosemary (Skip) Peterson, Kathy (Bob) Deasy, and Jack (Barbara) Buckley. She was predeceased by her loving nephew Tom Buckley, her brother John Buckley and his wife Ruth (Barron) Buckley, and her sister-in-law Pegge Williams (Jerry) Lang.

Her funeral will be held at St. Lucy’s Catholic Church in St. Clair Shores on Tuesday, September 10th with a visitation in the foyer at 10 a.m. followed by a mass at 11 a.m. All are welcome to join a luncheon at Lochmoor Club in Grosse Pointe Woods following the service. Please consider a donation to Angela Hospice Care Center in Livonia, where Madeline was provided peace, kindness, and dignity in her last week of life.