Madeleine Racoux Chandler

CHANDLER, Madeleine (nee Racoux), 95, fortified with the sacraments of Holy Mother Church on Wednesday, February 21, 2018. Beloved wife of the late James B. Chandler; loving mother of Peter Chandler, Michele (Darrell) Long, and the late Paul Chandler; dear grandmother of Jennifer Chandler, James Chandler, Nicole Smith, Philip Dore, and Rachel Dore; great grandmother of Tyler Smith.

Madeleine born on April 9, 1922 in Verviers, Belgium to Maurice and Alberte Racoux. She was the eldest of three daughters; her other sisters, Ms. André Racoux, and the late Mrs. Suzanne Smidts. Madeleine had graduated high school with high honors and was planning to go to veterinary school, but these plans were interrupted by World War II. Gifted with knowledge of over five languages, she would use these skills and others to assist the Allied War effort. Near the end of the War, she would meet her husband-to-be, US Army Captain James B Chandler at a Red Cross Ball in Verviers, and they were married July 27, 1946.

After her husband completed his military tour of duty, Madeleine accompanied him back to Wichita, Kansas, and became U.S. citizen. While her husband was completing his college studies in Kansas and later his post-graduate studies in Michigan, Madeleine would be building and raising the foundations of the Chandler family, giving birth to three children: Paul, Peter, and Michele.

The Chandlers would then embark on the first of many overseas assignments – starting with Ethiopia in 1955-57; Laos 1958-60; Tunisia in 1962-64; Laos and Thailand 1964-67; Laos 1969-74; Washington DC 1974-76; and a UN assignment in Switzerland from 1977-82. During some assignments, it was not always possible to allow dependents to accompany Foreign Service personnel, whereupon Madeleine had to become the sole head of the family, in a safer area.

Madeleine followed her husband into retirement, spending several years in their original house in Ypsilanti Michigan, before deciding to settle down for good, in Richmond Heights Missouri.

Madeleine truly enjoyed how she was able to spend these retirement years: going on cruises with her husband; tending her gardens; being loved by her many cats and dogs; playing expert-level Bridge and other card games; becoming a great player of Scrabble; working on her oil painting and classical Chinese water-painting; and most importantly, playing an important assisting role with the continued growth and development of all her beloved children, grandchildren and great-grandchild.

SERVICES: Visitation 4-6pm on Monday, February 26, 2018 KRIEGSHAUSER MORTUARY WEST CHAPEL 9450 Olive Blvd., Olivette, MO 63132. Please meet by 9:15am at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church 7230 Dale at the corner of Bellevue for 9:30am Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, February 27, 2018. Interment to follow in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery