Madden-LaVallee, of West Yarmouth, formerly of Brockton, December 23, 2002, Catherine M. (Godsill) Madden-LaVallee, 87 years. Wife of the late Thomas B. Madden and Ernest A. LaVallee. Mother of Joanne Hamblett of Brockton, Mary Burke of Milton, Kathleen Day of Hingham, Thomas Madden of Plymouth, Gerard Madden of Barnstable Village, stepmother of Joanne Hansen of Randolph, Karen Whitney of Braintree, Edwin LaVallee and Gary LaVallee both of Plymouth. Sister of Martha Williams of Duxbury and Ambrose Godsill of California.
A celebratory mass will be held Saturday, January 4, 2002 in St. John Church, East Bridgewater at 2PM. Burial in Calvary Cemetery, Brockton. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund has been set up for those continuing higher education. Contributions should be made to the Catherine M. Madden-LaVallee Scholarship Fund, c/o Brockton Credit Union, PO Box 720, Brockton, MA 02303.
Obituary Information
Catherine M. (Godsill) Madden-LaVallee, 87 years originally from Brockton and a resident of West Yarmouth, died Monday at Cape Heritage Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Sandwich after a period of failing health. She was the wife of the late Thomas B. Madden, who died in 1961 and the late Ernest LaVallee, who passed away in 2000.
Mrs. Madden-LaVallee was born and raised in Brockton, a daughter of the late James and Julia (Foley) Godsill. She graduated from Brockton High School, Class of 1933, and Bridgewater State College, Class of 1937. She later received a Masters Degree in Education and had worked towards her doctorate.
She was employed as a teacher in the Brockton School System before taking a sabbatical to raise her five children. During that time, she taught at Little Folks Private School in Brockton. She later resumed her job in the Brockton School System, becoming a reading instructor and then the reading coordinator for a new and innovative reading program for the city. She was beloved and admired by thousands of students and scores of fellow teachers, instructors and administrators. She also taught English as a second language to hundreds of adult immigrants.
She loved the beach and moved from Brockton to her Cape Cod home in West Yarmouth upon her retirement. She also had a home in Ellenton, Florida. She enjoyed reading, dancing and spending time with her relatives and many children. She was a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association. She had been a communicant of St. Margaret Church while residing in Brockton, and a communicant of St. Francis Xavier Church while a resident of West Yarmouth.
She is survived by three daughters Joanne Hamblett of Brockton, Mary Burke of Milton, Kathleen Day of Hingham, two sons Thomas Madden of Plymouth and Gerard Madden of Barnstable Village, two stepdaughters Joanne Hansen of Randolph, Karen Whitney of Braintree and two stepsons Edwin LaVallee and Gary LaVallee both of Plymouth, many grandchildren, several nieces nephews and godchildren. One sister Martha Williams of Duxbury and one brother Ambrose Godsill of California. She was the sister of the late John Godsill, James Godsill and Margaret “Peggy” Godsill