Madeleine was born in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania on October 22, 1919, to Reginald and Ella Curtis. After graduating from Nanticoke High School, Madeleine headed to Boston where she received her nursing degree in 1942 from the Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing. Fellow nursing students described Madeleine in their yearbook as "soft-spoken, always dependable, and alluring in evening wear". She must have been "alluring" in a nurse's uniform as well because at MGH, she caught the eye of a young surgical resident from Harvard Medical School named Jesse E. Thompson, who would become her loving and devoted husband in 1944.
Following World War Two, Madeleine received a certificate signed by the Surgeon General for "Meritorious Service" from the United States Public Health Service in recognition of her wartime contribution as an instructor for members of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. As with other members of the "greatest generation", Madeleine was humble about her wartime service and did her part without undue fanfare.
Madeleine and Jesse lived in Boston, MA, and Oxford, England, before settling in Dallas in 1954. They raised their four children in the Lone Star state, traveled the world, and remained devoted to each other for 63 years. Madeleine took pride in her role as an enthusiastic supporter of Jesse in his work as an internationally acclaimed vascular surgeon. Jesse often said he could never have accomplished what he did without her. Friends and family heartily agreed!
A lifelong Methodist, Madeleine was a member of Highland Park United Methodist Church for 58 years. Madeleine and Jesse enjoyed socializing with friends and fellow members of the Dallas Country Club, the Petroleum Club, and the Cadence Club. Madeleine's volunteer commitments included service as president of the Dallas County Medical Society Alliance and Highland Park Junior High School PTA. She was instrumental in getting a stop sign installed at the intersection of Beverly Drive and Drexel after her son was hit by a car while walking home from school.
Preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister and brother, Madeleine is survived by a sister, Ellen Clemente and her husband Mike of Youngstown, Ohio; daughter Sally McPherson and her husband Ted of Dallas; son Dr. Jesse Thompson, Jr. and his wife Dr. Alice Glasser, of Los Angeles; daughter Janet Thompson of Dallas; daughter Diane Taylor and her husband Chris of Los Angeles; 8 grandchildren: Beth Gaffga and Edward McPherson, Nate Thompson and Julianne Bretan, Mackay Boynton and Sara Dominguez, and Joseph and Michael Taylor; and 1 great grandchild, Penelope McPherson.
The family would like to thank Madeleine's skilled and loving caregivers, especially Rhonda Chaverria, Janet Gideon and Ann Lovil. A memorial service will be held at Highland Park United Methodist Church, Cox Chapel, on Tuesday, July 24 at 2:00 pm. Memorials may be made to Baylor Health Care System Foundation: Thompson Fund, 3600 Gaston Avenue, Suite 100, Dallas, TX, 75246; Dallas County Medical Society Alliance Foundation, 5500 Swiss Avenue, Dallas, TX, 75214, or charity of choice.
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