Madelyn Louise Simms

Born in Lunenburg in 1933, Madelyn was the only child of Nellie (Walters) Spindler Tobin of East LaHave and Captain Alvin Spindler of Feltzen South. Her father was lost at sea from the Schooner “Isabel F. Spindler” when Madelyn was ten months old. Madelyn was a graduate of the Lunenburg Academy and completed post-secondary studies in Accounting at NS Tech and ICS. After a long career, she retired in 1999 from Nova Scotia Housing as Supervisor of Mortgage Administration and Data Control.

Madelyn was an avid life-long learner, a voracious reader, and record keeper. She took up ballroom dancing until arthritis got in the way; enjoyed singing as a member of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church choir and former Aeolian; learned how to play a wide variety of percussion instruments in her retirement, attending band camps with fellow New Horizons Band members. Her family was “proud as punch” to watch her play drums in her band – and a drum solo in church at age 86. Madelyn continued taking computer courses after retirement, and enjoyed volunteering her accounting and computer skills at church in various capacities.

Madelyn was predeceased by her father, Captain Alvin Spindler (memorialized on the Lunenburg town’s Compass Rose); mother, Nellie (Walters); step-father, Captain Enoch Tobin; former spouse, Wilbert (Bill) Simms; adopted brother / cousin J. Greville (Edith) Morash of Picton, ON; cherished Aunt, Myree (Dr. Austin) Macdonald of Baddeck; cherished Spindler cousins Marie Himmelman, and “Diz” Moore. She will be dearly missed by her daughter, Suzanne (Christopher) Shaw; much-loved grandchildren, Taylor and Cameron Shaw, all of Halifax; step-sister, Audrey (Ivan) Greek of Dartmouth; and cherished cousins descended from Captain Cyrus and Ada (Wamback) Walters. We have lost a wonderful and loving mother, grandmother, and Walters’ family matriarch.

Her family would like to thank the exceptional staff on Northwood, 11M, for their loving care in final months.

There will be a Memorial Service followed by a reception in Madelyn’s memory on May 28th, at 1:00 pm, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 216 School Street, Dartmouth. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church or to the Lunenburg Academy Foundation.