Madeleine Mcgrath

Madeleine Mary Louise Leona Agnes (Deauville) McGrath "Maddi", formerly of Andover, died on Wednesday, September 19, 2012, at St Joseph Living Center. She was born October 13, 1915 in Norwich CT, daughter of Alma and William Deauville, having 4 brothers, Lawrence, Charles, Raymond and John who have all predeceased her. She graduated from Putnam Catholic Academy. There she made many close friends with whom she maintained contact over many years, writing frequent letters in her calligraphy-like handwriting. She was a remarkable tennis player while in Putnam Catholic Academy. She told about her experience where she was winning a tennis match and her opponent appeared tearfully upset, having lost other recent matches. Madeleine sympathetically cut back her effort in order for this opponent to win the match, therefore losing the first place title she would have otherwise had. After graduating, she stayed home for a year, nursing her mother with cancer before her mother's death. When she returned to her social life, she met Donald McGrath, her husband to be, and they married in 1939. She retired from Pratt & Whitney as a secretary in East Hartford, CT. Shortly after retirement she and Donald bought a home in Spring Hill FL where they enjoyed southern living and being "snowbirds". She was an avid reader, very health conscious, engaged in many hobbies such as basket weaving, acrylic and water painting, crocheting afghans, card playing with friends, spending many hours gardening and traveling back and forth between her two homes in FL and CT. She was very family oriented and greatly enjoyed spending time with her grandkids when in Connecticut. She lived with her husband and family in Connecticut towns of Norwich, East Hartford, North Franklin, and Andover before moving to Spring Hill Florida. She returned to Connecticut in 1996. Her husband Donald predeceased her in 1989. Besides her 9 grandkids and 17 great grandkids, she leaves 4 adult children, Anne Logan of Spring Hill, FL and her husband James Logan; Donald McGrath Jr of West Yarmouth, MA. and his wife Sandee McGrath; Christine Jurovaty of Andover, CT. and her husband Paul Jurovaty; John McGrath of Colchester, CT and his companion Rocco Basilica. She was very spiritual having attended Catholic schools and spending much time with the nuns at Putnam Catholic Academy. She attended several churches including St Patrick Cathedral in Norwich CT, St Maurice Catholic Church in Bolton CT, St. Therese Catholic Church in Spring Hill and later St Joseph Chapel at St. Joseph Living Center in Windham, CT. There are no calling hours. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday Sept. 24th at 11:00am at The Church of The Holy Family, 185 Church St. (Rte. 85) Hebron, CT. Interment will follow in Townsend Cemetery, Andover. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Catholic Charities, Diocese of Norwich, Inc. 331 Main St Norwich, Ct 06360 or Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 8th Ave., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001. For an online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com . Arrangements through Potter Funeral Home, Willimantic.