Madeline Venella
June 18, 1921 - February 18, 2004

Photo taken in c. 1965

Tribute to Madeline
by Her Son Anthony

Below is such a typical photograph of Mom at the kitchen table in our home at 1367 North Collings Road. We had the typical kitchen table of the 1940s – 1950s with the chrome around the edge of the top and chrome legs and chrome chairs.

Mom is featured here making 'Govadeli's' (Gnocchi). Mom also made her own ravioli as she did with sauce, gravy, pies, cakes, etc. One of many fond memories were her pumpkin pies because beside the regular size she made tiny round ones for me since I was the 'sweet eater,' and of course I got to lick the bowls from the cake mixes.

I suppose Mom's most famous and most loved were her traditional Christmas cookies and Easter pies. Mom continued these two traditions through Christmas of 2003.

We all, of course, continued to enjoy Mom’s Christmas cookies long after we moved out on our own when we would visit at Christmas and Mom always brought a plate full of cookies as she came to our homes. For many years I had an "Annual Christmas Cousin Gathering" at my home and everyone looked forward to the huge decorated tray of her cookies. Fortunately I captured Mom placing the tray on my Dining room table. Another Treasured moment of mine was when I helped Mom make her Christmas cookies on Black Friday for her last Christmas.

Mom was always well groomed. A neighbor Richard Grimm once said, and I heard others make the same remark, that even when Mom was doing Spring house cleaning she never looked soiled or had a hair out of place.

Mom was a typical woman of the era, being able to take her three sons on a bus to visit her mother in Camden or her Godmother in Philadelphia with all of the necessary gear, and at times even having to take two buses. Mom always managed to save a few dollars out of her very tight budget to give to her mother whenever she visited her.

Madeline Venella, Christmas 1956

Mom, as well as Dad, always made certain every holiday was special, from the decorations inside and outside to all of the preparations for the feast of the day. Like with most homes of the era, Mom would begin to prepare for the holiday days before and when the special day arrived she made it 'Magical' with treasured memories.

I remember Mom always seemed to remember a Christmas gift she had forgotten to put under the tree a few days after Christmas - a late surprise. And Mom always managed to find hiding places to store the gifts.

Well I tried once, getting a neighborhood girl to ask Mom if she ever cleaned under the bed. Mom of course figured out the reason for the question and of course said that she didn't clean under the bed so I would feel safe in hiding a present for her.

On special occasions when money was tight Mom always made the day memorial. I remember when Ron and I made our First Holy Communion Mom treated us to a milkshake at Bill's across the street, which to us was very special. Once Saint Joan Of Arc had a party in the basement, and all Mom had was a silver dollar and she gave it to me so I could attend. I returned the silver dollar and a strawberry milkshake to Mom many years later on Mother’s Day.

Mom often loved to play Bingo at the Saint Joan Of Arc School building. One year near Christmas when she returned home she walked into the living room and smiled and threw her winnings up in the air. Within a week Mom and Dad brought us over to a place near Sears, or perhaps it was Sears to select a train set for Christmas! So very typical of Mom to share her fortune with us.

When Dad became too ill to work, Mom took on a job at 'Little Women' at the Shipyard where they made coats. And later in life Mom took on a job as a manicurist at a beauty shop once a week, which she loved. And the ladies loved her and the cookies she would bring to them at Christmas.

For over 30 years Mom also enjoyed her weekly Monday evening 'Coffee Club' at Mrs. Grimm's Home directly across the street along with Marge Cannon and Vera Verpecinska.

Coffee Club: Margaret (Marge) Cannon, Madeline Venella, Mrs. Grimm
at Mrs. I. Lela Grimm's Home, 3069 S. Chesapeake Road (c. 1965)

We had several special gatherings at our home with all of the immediate Neighbors, the Grimm's, Verpecinska’s, Kehoe's, Hayes', Rossell's, and Cannon's. Mom loved having company.

At the age of 82 years and 8 months Mom passed on February 18, 2004. Some had thought Mom had spent her last weeks in bed, but Mom remained in her chair in the Living Room up to her last day.

Madeline at Anthony's Home in Clementon, December 9, 2000

In the early afternoon I helped Mom up and got her into bed. My brothers and their wives arrived shortly after as did our priest. Mom was able to converse with us within minutes of her passing. She got an opportunity to see a few of her close friends as we called them to Mom's home. And by 7:30 pm Mom passed on with dignity and peace with all of us around her.

Thank you for allowing me to share a little about our very special Mom. We miss her more than words can ever describe.

Forever Within Our Hearts
Love, Son Anthony
And Love from sons Ron and Dave